Meetei (Meitei) Tribe Union and Manipur International Youth Centre on Monday urged the state government to cancel issuance of ST certificates to illegal immigrants, asserting that the outsiders are occupying seats in government institutions and jobs and taking benefits of the various government schemes.
MMTU and MIYC, in a joint release, also urged the various state departments to be aware of the same and strictly monitor promotions, admissions in institutions, scholarship application process etc. It called upon all the indigenous communities in the state to stand in unity and fight the population war waged by the outsiders.
It pointed out the widespread influx of illegal immigrants in both the hill and valley areas of the state. It noted that the Ministry of Tribal Affairs had on December 26, 2023, issued a notice to the Manipur government informing to submit the accurate details of the individuals and communities included in the ST list.
The Supreme Court has also ordered that non-indigenous communities cannot be included in the ST list, it maintained. As such, it alleged that the immigrants are not qualified to be included in the ST list.
It expressed concern that the influx has led to encroachment of the state’s land, politics, and economy thereby threatening the existence of the indigenous communities of the state. Inclusion of the Meetei community in the ST list will not deprive the other indigenous communities of their reservation or benefits, it asserted. It further urged all to support the cause.
