Manipur: Classifying Meiteis as ST is "panacea" to all problems, says Kangleipak Kanba Lup

(By Halley Nongmaithem)

IMPHAL

The Kangleipak Kanba Lup (KKL) has requested Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh to stress upon the Union government the need to place the Meiteis under the Scheduled Tribe category.

“Classifying the Meitei as a Scheduled Tribe of India will be the panacea to the problems and dilemmas including unemployment and preservation of the indigenous ethnic identity which the Meitei people of Manipur has been facing since the state’s merger with the Union of India in 1949,” KKL advisor Yambem Laba said in the letter to the Chief Minister.

The letter also requested the state government to inform Home Minister Amit Shah that classifying the Meiteis of Manipur as a Scheduled tribe is the pre-condition before giving the green signal to the Centre to sign the final peace accord with the NSCN-IM and the NNPG.

(Edited by Christopher Gatphoh)