IMPHAL, May 5: The demand for inclusion of the Meitei community in the list of Scheduled Tribes under Indian Constitution has been vehemently opposed by the Manipuri Chanura Leishem Marup (Macha Leima).
In a press release today the Macha Leima has described the demand for inclusion in ST list as reactionary.
Questioning the logic behind the demand the statement said, the Meitei community could never be recognized as scheduled tribe according to the definition given under the Indian constitution. Meiteis have longed evolved from being a tribe and one cannot simply travel backwards in history for the sake of a few benefits.