In a development concerning the decades-long demand to include the Meetei community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list, Th Basanta Kumar, the BJP candidate for Inner Manipur PC, has expressed his support.
During a meeting with representatives of the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee Manipur (STDCM) at his residence in Babupara, Imphal, Basantakumar stated, “In my view, it is a justified demand.”
This statement was made as part of the “Know Your Candidate” campaign, organised by the STDCM to understand the stance of political candidates on the Meetei ST status demand.
Basanta Kumar further pledged, “If the people of Manipur elect me as the representative of Inner Manipur PC, I will try my utmost best level to ensure that this demand is fulfilled.”
He emphasized that this issue is a policy matter that needs serious consideration.
Highlighting the potential benefits of fulfilling this demand, he added, “It will help in the better co-existence of the different indigenous communities of Manipur, under the vision of an integrated and united Manipur.”
Basanta Kumar, who also serves as the Education and Law Minister in Manipur’s cabinet, informed that the state government is taking this issue seriously and is looking into it in-depth.
It is worth noting that during his visit to Manipur at the onset of the ongoing crisis, Union Home Minister Amit Shah attributed the crisis partly to an order passed by the High Court of Manipur regarding the ST demand.
ALSO READ:
STDCM ramps up poster campaign for ST inclusion
Lakhs in streets for ST demand: STDCM
Manipur crisis a premeditated attack, nothing to do with ST demand: STDCM
