MTU seeks governor’s support on ST status for Meitei

IMPHAL — Representatives of Meetei (Meitei) Tribe Union (MTU) called on Manipur Governor, Anusuiya Uikey, at Raj Bhavan on Friday and requested her to extend support for the inclusion of Meetei (Meitei) to Scheduled Tribe status.

According to a press release from the Raj Bhavan, Imphal, the representatives stated the community is lagging behind on all fronts for which ST status is the only hope to safeguard the community. Stating that the community has been demanding the status for ten year but yet to be achieved, it requested the governor to extend all possible support in this regard.

Governor informed that the process of granting ST status is a long process and all parameters would be looked into by the Schedule Tribe Commission and concerned Ministry at the Centre. She assured to talk to the chief minister and asked the representatives to approach the ST Commission for necessary procedures.

The release stated that national secretary of RPI-A, Maheswar Thounaojam, along with one member also called on the Governor and apprised of the prevailing post violence situation in the state.

Thounaojam informed that there has been a conflicting situation in the state and the people are suffering. Citing the incident of killing a police officer in Moreh, he said the present situation is mainly because of external aggression. He, therefore, urged to take a concrete step to end the conflict.

The governor has conveyed that efforts are on to bring back peace and normalcy in the state. She informed that central and state governments are in touch with intelligence agencies to chalk out plans adding that appropriate security measures are already in place to avoid further eventualities.

Governor was of the view that hatred among the two communities should be removed to mend the trust deficit and all should come forward for discussion.

Meanwhile, a five-member delegation of the Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple Board, Imphal, also called on the governor separately this evening and invited her to attend the cultural workshop, which would be organised in collaboration with Manipur University of Culture from November 11 to 26th.

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