IT News
Imphal, Aug 19:
Members of the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee of Manipur today called on the delegation led by CPI (M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury and submitted memorandum at Classic Hotel here in Imphal today.
Sitaram Yechury, along with two other members of the Central Committee, CPI (M) – Jitendra Chaudhury and Sprakash Talukdar are in Imphal to take stock of the ongoing violence in Manipur. State unit president of CPI (M) Ksh. Shanta was present when the members of the STDC submitted memorandum to the CPI leaders.
A statement by the STDCM said that CPI (M) general secretary Sitaram Yetchury had assured to urge the central government for speedy restoration of normalcy in the state. He further assured that he will look after the demand for ST status by the Meitei/Meetei community.
The STDCM team while meeting the CPI (M) leaders stated that the ongoing crisis is neither tribal vs non-tribal, nor Hindu Vs Christian or majority Vs. Minority as projected by some leaders of political parties who have visited Manipur. However, the conflict is between un-scheduled Meitei tribes and scheduled Kuki tribes. There are many scheduled community in Manipur who are not party to the conflict. The STCM stated that the crisis is also not related to the High Court order in connection with a case filed demanding ST status for Meities.
The STDCM team also expressed dissatisfaction to the team of All India Democratic Womens’ Association which included CPI (M) leader Brinda Karat which had visited Manipur and submitted memorandum to the President of India portraying the violence as tribal Vs non-tribal conflict. The team stated that the root of the crisis was due to driving out of illegal occupations from the reserved forest areas by the state government, the attempt to flush out illegal migrants and demand for implementation of the NRC.