Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 20:
To protest the failure of the State Government to bring out a white paper on the controversy over granting of SC status to the people of Kakching and Chairen thereby usurping the rights of the genuine SC people in Manipur, All Manipur Scheduled Caste Students' Union (AMSCSU) organised a mass sit-in-protest demonstration at Andro bazar today.
AMSCSU launched the protest demonstration after the State Government allegedly failed to bring out the white paper within the stipulated deadline of June 15 set by it.
Placards and festoons denouncing the decision the grant the SC status to people of Kakching and Chairen people, and action against the DC, SDO concerned etc were put up at the site of the demonstration.
Speaking to media-persons at the occasion, secretary of Eastern Scheduled Caste Students' Union, Andro Nandakumar Aheibam warned that they would take recourse to other intense form of agitation if the State Government remains indifferent to their demands.
He also demanded that the State Government initiate action against the two MLAs who distributed the SC certificates to the people of Kakching and Chairen.
All Manipur Scheduled Castes' Association president Kh Rotonmani, secretary M Marjit, AMSCSU president M Gyanel, ex-president Kh Chitrajit, etc were also among those who were present and spoke at the occasion.
Rotonmani said that AMSCA and AMSCSU have been taking peaceful agitation in a democratic manner.
However, if the Government do not pay attention to the cries of the genuine SC people, they would be constraint to resort to violent agitation.
Marjit reiterated the people of Kakching and Chairen are not recognised by the Indian Constitution as SCs.
If they have been SCs, then according to the population of the SC people in the State, the number of total reserved seats for SCs in Manipur would have been 10 percent and not 2 percent as it is now, he contended.
Chitrajit charged the State Government of violating the Constitutional norms and rule of law.