Kuki Student Organisation-General Headquarters (KSO-GHQ) on Tuesday announced a total shutdown on March 26 and 27.
The KSO-GHQ announced the total shutdown in protest against a decision of the state government of Manipur to delete ‘Any Kuki Tribe’ from the recognised scheduled tribes list of the state which was approved by the state cabinet on October 19, 2018.
KSO president Paotinthang Lupheng, in a statement on Tuesday, alleged that the student body has been strongly protesting against the decision of the state government and appealing the latter on many occasions to review the decision. “In spite of repeated appeals made by the student body to halt any further process for deletion of ‘Any Kuki Tribes’, the state government hitherto failed to react favourably”, the statement lamented.
The KSO statement then said that the decision adversely affects the status and identity of people under any kuki tribes and it was against the Constitution which guaranteed people belonging to any Kuki tribes, their status as scheduled tribe in the state.
The statement informed that KSO has also resolved to oppose any decision of the government that threatens the status of its people whether it is any Kuki tribes or any other Kuki tribes recognised under the Constitution of India.
He asserted that “today the state government wanted to delete any Kuki tribes from the ST list and tomorrow, it could be Simte, Zou Thadou or other Kuki tribes that the state government would like to delete”.
The KSO president demanded the state government to uphold and respect an Act of Constitution and allow the ‘Any Kuki Tribes’ to retain its status as recognised under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Orders (Amendment) Act, 2002 (No. 10 of 2003) Part X.
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