Imphal: National People’s Party (NPP) legislator, Khuraijam Loken on Sunday assured all his support to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) status demand for the Meitei/Meitei community.
Despite the strong opposition from hill based organisations and students’ bodies, the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee Manipur (STDCM) continued seeking support of the ministers and MLAs.
Continuing the campaign, leaders and members of the STDCM along with bodies supporting the campaign visited the residence of the NPP MLA, Khuraijam Loken at Yumnam Huidrom in Imphal West district and submitted a memorandum as they did to other legislators.
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During the interaction, the MLA observed that inclusion of Meitei/Meetei in the ST list is necessary to maintain equal status among the different ethnic communities living together in the state.
He said that equal social status will bring harmony among the ethnic communities who are divided by categories like OBC, ST and SC.
The difference in the status has always been an issue in uniting the ethnic communities in the state, he also said.
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The NPP legislator then assured all possible support from his side in pressing the state government to fulfill the demand of the STDCM.
Many ministers and MLAs of the ruling BJP, to mention here, had extended their support to the demand of the STDCM while saying that it is a legitimate demand.
NNN