Imphal | The World Meetei Council (WMC) has asserted that the demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the Meetei community enjoys overwhelming public support across Manipur, rejecting recent remarks by former United National Liberation Front (UNLF) chairman RK Meghen, also known as Sanayaima, who reportedly claimed that the issue was backed only by a section of the community.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the council said the movement for inclusion of the Meetei community in the Scheduled Tribe list has witnessed sustained public support over the years through awareness campaigns, rallies and mass mobilisation efforts across the state.

The organisation maintained that activists associated with the Meetei ST movement had conducted extensive outreach programmes in Meetei-inhabited villages and localities throughout Manipur, where, it claimed, the demand received widespread acceptance and support.

Citing a statewide campaign conducted in 2024, the WMC said nearly 10 lakh signatures were collected through a “Mass Missed Call Campaign” in support of the ST demand. According to the council, the response reflected support from a substantial section of the adult Meetei population, estimated at around 15 lakh, excluding children who were not eligible to participate.

The council also pointed to a major rally organised by the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee of Manipur (STDCM) in 2015, claiming that around 1.5 lakh people had gathered in Imphal to press for Scheduled Tribe status. It described the mobilisation as one of the strongest demonstrations of public support for the demand.

Responding directly to RK Meghen’s recent video statement, the WMC alleged that his observations did not accurately reflect the extent of public backing enjoyed by the movement. The organisation said the demand had remained a significant socio-political issue for years and was supported by extensive public mobilisation and advocacy.

While acknowledging the right of individuals to express differing opinions, the council stressed that discussions on the issue should be grounded in facts and verifiable information.

The WMC further argued that the demand for Scheduled Tribe status is a constitutional matter and should not be viewed as an issue requiring negotiations between communities. It maintained that the Meetei community requires constitutional safeguards to protect its identity, culture and socio-economic interests.

The organisation also referred to the Supreme Court’s August 1, 2024 judgment delivered by a seven-judge Constitution Bench on sub-classification within reserved categories. It urged both the Centre and the Manipur government to take steps towards implementing the ruling and called on various communities to engage constructively on issues related to constitutional protections and social justice.

Reiterating its stand, the council appealed for informed and responsible public discourse on the ST status issue and said it remained open to constructive dialogue with all stakeholders.

The demand for Scheduled Tribe status for the Meetei community has remained a subject of debate in Manipur for several years, drawing support from various Meetei organisations while also facing opposition from several tribal groups. The issue continues to be one of the most significant socio-political questions in the state.