Imphal, May 3: The tribal bodies of Manipur on Wednesday staged a solidarity march protesting against inclusion of Meitei/Meetai community in Scheduled Tribe (ST) list.

Several protesters holding placards came out in huge numbers, supporting ATSUM’s solidarity march, themed ‘Come now let’s reason together’.

The All Tribal Students’ Union, Manipur (ATSUM), the apex tribal body in Manipur, announced the solidarity march in the hill districts of Senapati, Ukhrul, Kangpokpi, Tamenglong, Churachandpur, Chandel and Tengnoupal, opposing the demand of the Meitei community’s inclusion in the ST list.

In an official memorandum dated April 27, the ATSUM kept forward their decision to hold a solidarity march on May 3 stating, “And Whereas, the meeting of ATSUM dated 27th April 2023 while considering the pressing nature of the situation and as endorsed by the meeting of the tribal students’ organisations of Manipur dated 21-04-2023, resolved to organise the Tribal Solidarity March on 3rd May 2023 in all hill districts under the theme “Come now let us reason together”.”

“The meeting also constitute a district level coordination team to facilitate the grand success of the proposed march in each hill district with the assigned responsibilities- Coordinating with Apex Organisation of the concerned district, Mobilisation of resources, Mobilisation of participants, Effective coverage of the event in Media and Other necessary arrangement required for the event,” he said.

The tribal bodies also condemned the recent directive of the Manipur High Court to the state government to submit recommendations to the union government for the inclusion of the Meitei/Meetei community in the ST list.

Meanwhile, the Hill Areas Committee (HAC) has urged the state and Central governments to appeal against the High Court order.