The World Meetei Council (WMC) has rejected former UNLF leader R.K. Meghen’s recent statement that the Meetei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status is “not a serious issue” and is supported only by a section of the community.
In a statement issued by its Chairman, Heigrujam Nabashyam, the WMC asserted that the demand for inclusion of the Meetei community in the Scheduled Tribe list enjoys overwhelming support across Meetei-inhabited areas of Manipur. The organisation claimed that awareness campaigns conducted by activists of the Meetei ST movement had received support from every Meetei village and locality in the State.
The WMC further stated that a mass missed-call campaign conducted in 2024 in support of the ST demand received over 10 lakh responses from an estimated Meetei population of around 15 lakh, which it said reflected widespread public backing. It also referred to the 2015 rally organised by the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee of Manipur (STDCM), claiming that around 1.5 lakh people participated in support of the demand.
Describing Meghen’s remarks as “false and misleading,” the WMC said the demand for Scheduled Tribe status represents the aspirations of the majority of the Meetei community and should not be dismissed as the view of only a small section.
The organisation also referred to the Supreme Court’s August 1, 2024 Constitution Bench judgment permitting sub-classification within reserved categories, and urged the Central and State Governments to implement the ruling without delay. It said all tribal communities should press for the implementation of the judgment rather than oppose the constitutional aspirations of others.
Appealing for responsible public discourse, the WMC urged individuals commenting on the issue to present facts accurately and respect the democratic aspirations of the Meetei people, while reiterating its willingness to engage in constructive discussions on the matter.
