ST Demand : "Unfounded fear psychosis being spread..."

1st February, 2019

It is very unfortunate that the last few days PMC is noticing intemperate and unfounded fear psychosis being created and spread by students in the name of All Tribal Students Union Manipur (ATSUM) and others calling upon the hill people to “vehemently oppose tooth and nail all the agenda” of Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee Manipur (STDCM) warning the Manipur government too, to act according to their wishes lest it “ sparks conflagration”.

The fears of the students bodies is that if the Meetei is included in the ST list, Meetei would “grab tribal lands and rights”. To support their alleged fear they have stated that the Meetei cannot be Scheduled Tribe because they are “Brahmins, Rajkumars, Kshetriyas”, etc.

Now PMC would recall and draw the attention of all concerned – students bodies, CSO’s, etc who are fearful of Meetei being included in the ST list, to its earlier press statement in the form of letter to The United Naga Council, The Zomi Council and The Hmar Inpui in response to their submission to Mr. Jashwanthsinh Bhabor, Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs regarding inculsion of Meetei in the list of Scheduled Tribe, that had appeared in most dailies including Nagaland based Eastern Mirror on October, 14th ,2018.

PMC had stated in the most simple and clear terms that Meetei’s demand for ST status is to get one, a level playing field in the national level. And secondly to enable themselves to protect from the onslaught of the migrants from mainland and other illegal migrants from neighbouring countries. That is all, nothing more, nothing less.

PMC had also stated in all clarity and would again remind all the concerned that Meetei is a people made up of Seven Clan – SALAI TARET – Khuman, Luwang, Manang, Angom, Moilang, Kha-Nganba and Salang-Leishangthem, like our indigenous fraternal groups – Chin-Kuki groups, Naga groups, etc. Meetei are no Brahmins, no Kshetriyas and no Rajkumars. Whoever assume those titles or names are either self-styled or are not Meetei. As simple as that!

Chin-Kuki groups and Naga groups and Meetei people are living in this part of the world since time immemorial. We do not think you are migrants to this land who do not know who the Meetei people are ! We truly believe you do not need this reminder.

PMC would also remind you that not only in Manipur, Meetei living in Assam and Tripura are being threatened of its existence in the absence of any constitutional protection unlike our Naga brothers and Chin-Kuki brothers.

Therefore in the interests of all of us and the North-east where Meetei, Naga, Chin-Kuki, etc co-exist, PMC appeal all the concerned to rethink and reconsider their anti-Meetei position that have been expressed so blatantly probably poisoning the minds of the innocent people.

We hope, all concerned fraternal groups - Chin-Kuki groups and Naga groups should stop this unmindful move against the Meetei. We assure you, we can go for any dialogue and negotiation to bring the issue to a logical conclusion anywhere - anytime. We assure you our fullest cooperation to protect your interests in the event of Meetei being included in the ST list of the constitution.

Heigrujam Nabashyam
President
Pan Meetei Convention