Imphal: The All Tribal Students’ Union, Manipur (ATSUM) has organized a meeting today christened as “tribal consultative meeting on the demand of Meitei/Meetei and Meitei Pangal communities for inclusion in ST category”. The event was held at Amity Hall in Adimjati Complex, Imphal, according to the ATSUM statement.
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The ATSUM claimed that the leaders present, after a thorough deliberation, reaffirmed their support to the causes ATSUM is championing for the people.
The ATSUM further claimed that, during the discussion, members from different hill districts expressed their “well founded fear and anxiety” if the ST status is granted to the Meitei/Meetei and Meitei Pangal communities, “that will open a flood-gate to further exploit the scheduled tribes in Manipur”. Therefore, according to the ATSUM, the meeting unanimously reaffirmed the opposition to the ST status demand of the Meitei/Meetei and the Meitei Pangal communities.
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Further, the meeting also endorsed the ATSUM to continue pursuing the matter and chalk out action plans to consolidate the voice of the people, the tribal student body added.
