The World Meetei Council (WMC) on Tuesday appealed to all legislators of Manipur, urging them to table the demand for the inclusion of the Meetei community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list during the upcoming legislative sessions and support the move.
Addressing the media at the Manipur Press Club in Imphal, WMC president Urikhibam Kunjo emphasised the long-standing nature of this demand within the Meetei community.
He pointed to the recent success of a miscall campaign conducted by WMC, alongside other Meetei organisations such as MTU, KKL, and SKL, during November and December last year, as evidence of widespread support for this initiative.
Recalling assurances provided to various civil bodies of Manipur during discussions with Meetei and some Naga legislators last year, Kunjo stressed their endorsement of the ST demand.
He stressed the urgency of this matter, particularly in light of the impending nationwide delimitation process, highlighting potential threats to the Meetei community if they are not included in the ST list.
The president emphasised that enlisting the Meetei community in the ST list represents the most constitutional means of safeguarding their rights and interests and urged legislators to prioritise this issue to ensure the protection and empowerment of the Meetei community in Manipur.
