Imphal: The Meitei Tribe Union (MMTU) has planned to approach the Supreme Court if the Scheduled Tribe (ST) status granted to the Kuki-Zo people is not revoked.
In a statement, MMTU organisation secretary Takhellambam Parijat Singh claimed that the Kuki-Zo people are illegal immigrants from Myanmar and their inclusion in the Indian voters’ list and ST list is unconstitutional and violates the Foreigners’ Act, 1946.
The union also accused authorities of allowing the illegal immigrants from Myanmar to enroll as voters and obtain ST status.
The MMTU argues that the Kuki-Zo people have been illegally settling in Manipur and have been granted ST status with an agenda to undermine the indigenous communities in the region.
The organisation is now considering legal action in view of the threat posed to demographic balance and the cultural identity of the indigenous.
The union cited historical documents as evidence, claiming that there were no Kuki-Zo villages in the state until 1834 and they entered Manipur as refugees or illegal immigrants.
They pointed out that Kuki refugees who arrived in Manipur before 1973 repeatedly sought financial packages for relief and rehabilitation from both the central and state governments.
The MMTU asserted that the Kuki-Zo communities were wrongly included in the ST list in 1950.
The term “Kuki-Zo” was subsequently changed to “any Kuki-Zo tribe” in 1956, which allegedly facilitated a significant influx of Kuki-Zo immigrants from Myanmar.
Pointing out that the Constitution of India has strict criteria for inclusion in the ST list, MMTU stated that only communities that have resided in a region for an extended period can qualify for this status and no foreign nationals and refugees can be included in the list.
The union has also cited legal precedents, including Supreme Court rulings, to support its argument that only indigenous communities can be included in the ST list.
The union highlighted that in certain Indian states, communities that were mistakenly included in the ST list have been removed.
However, in Manipur, the issue remains unresolved, causing significant concern among the Meitei community, the union further stated.
The MMTU has warned that the Meitei people’s existence is under threat due to the non-indigenous communities seeking ST status.
Meetei community fears that without ST status, they will lose control over their land, political influence, and cultural identity, it asserted.
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The union has called upon the indigenous communities, citizens, and politicians to unite in support of their demand for inclusion in the ST list.
The union has warned that if their demand is not met, tensions may escalate and they may be forced to take drastic measures to protect their cultural, political, and economic rights.
