IT News
Imphal, Sept 9:
In a significant gathering, the World Meetei Council (WMC) convened a session to address the escalating violence in Manipur. A key finding from their discussion points to the “extremely unequal constitutional disposition” faced by the Meetei community as a potential root cause of the ongoing tensions.
Yambem Arun Meetei, the Secretary General of the WMC, detailed in a press statement that the Meetei, ever since the establishment of the Indian constitution, have been insidiously treated as “strangers” or “second-class citizens” within their own state. The statement lamented, “Regrettably, even Meetei leaders have been complicit in this marginalization. Had the Meetei community been recognized as rightful citizens, such violence would likely have been avoided.”
A pressing concern highlighted by the WMC is the ease with which a Myanmarese Chinkuki can migrate to Manipur and immediately be recognized as a citizen under the Scheduled Tribe (ST) designation. The organization argues that such provisions have rendered the Nagas and immigrant Chinkukis as the predominant recognized citizens in Manipur, and this scenario is attributable to the existing constitutional provisions. Both the governments of India and Manipur are held accountable by the WMC for this situation.
The WMC voiced its discontent over the government’s consistent overlooking of the Meetei community’s plight. The council claims that the immigrant Chinkuki population, which reportedly instigated the violence, continues to demand more rights, further marginalizing the indigenous populace. “It’s deeply concerning when even indigenous communities like the Nagas align with the immigrants. We hope that better judgment will prevail among the Nagas,” said the press release.
In a poignant remark, the WMC said, “Today, Manipur, the gateway to South-East Asia, burns. A durable peace in this critical Asian corridor is unattainable unless justice is served to the Meetei.” They further emphasized that certain Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have been approaching the government with potentially misguided demands.
The WMC made a fervent appeal to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji to amend the constitutional provisions that have perpetuated the crisis. Their primary demand? Recognize the Meetei as a Scheduled Tribe without any further postponements.
