Republican Party of India (A) State President and National General Secretary Maheshwar Thounajam, accompanied by members of the RPI(A) Manipur State Committee, met the Governor of Manipur and Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla at Raj Bhavan on Friday.
The delegation submitted a representation seeking the inclusion of the Meitei/Meetei community in the Scheduled Tribe list, in line with constitutional provisions. Thounajam stated that the demand aims to secure legal and constitutional safeguards for the community, which he described as essential for preserving identity, land rights, and socio-economic well-being.
“This is a constitutional issue and a long-pending concern of the community. We are committed to working towards a resolution through the proper democratic process,” he said following the meeting.
The RPI(A) team highlighted the need for early action, citing concerns over demographic vulnerability and the community’s lack of access to protective legal frameworks currently available to other indigenous groups.
