“It is a huge disappointment that our own Chief Minister N Biren Singh and Minister Th Biswajit, instead of demanding justice for such an undignified discriminative conduct defended the same by even embracing the discrimination as our collective culture”, says ATSUM
TFM Kangpokpi Representative
All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur (ATSUM) conveyed its extreme dismay over Manipur Chief Minister’s statement defending the insult meted out to the tribal political leaders by the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah during their recent visit to Delhi.
The student body said that such an “undemocratic brahminical practice” was a shocking disgrace that completely negated the principles of equality enshrined in our constitution.
It also said that the Home Minister ought to explain and apologize to the tribal population of Manipur for mistreating “our representatives” by making them take out their shoes while entering his house.
This is the picture of the 'chappal controversy' which @RahulGandhi mentioned it in the parliament. Recently Manipuri delegates meeting @AmitShah were told to remove their shoes while the union home minister was wearing it during the meeting.#ChappalControversy #Manipur pic.twitter.com/QfVhGSWequ
— Thongkholal Haokip (@th_robert) February 2, 2022
“It is a huge disappointment that our own Chief Minister N Biren Singh and Minister Th Biswajit, instead of demanding justice for such an undignified discriminative conduct defended the same by even embracing the discrimination as our collective culture”, ATSUM said. “It is an embarrassment to learn that all our respected Meitei political leaders wilfully practice this caste-based behaviour towards the Union Ministers in Delhi”, pointed out the union.
ATSUM said that the tribals of Manipur do not practice any such discrimination among themselves or towards others and hence this discrimination to the tribal representatives is not acceptable to the union.
Leaders who went to meet HM Amit Shah were made to Remove their shoes outside the house but, Amit Shah wearing Chappals himself. This was a sad case of discrimination. HM is absolutely unacceptable and condemnable.#HM_Insults_Manipur pic.twitter.com/gqRf7VNxXJ
— INC Andhra Pradesh (@INC_Andhra) February 3, 2022
“We condemn the Union Home Minister Amit Shah‘s discriminative conduct and the deliberate false justification of the Chief Minister and the irrelevant defense of Minister Th Biswajit, it added.
ATSUM also stated that the Chief Minister has repeatedly betrayed the interest of the state tribals.
“Even after vehemently refusing to table the HAC recommended ADC Bill 2021 illegally, we had trusted his Government and signed an agreement on the November 25 and following the agreement ATSUM had temporarily suspended our agitation but the State Government’s assurance that the ADC Bill 2021 shall be introduced by the Government in the upcoming winter assembly session, 2021 was not honoured despite repeated reminders”, said ATSUM.
The union further stated the BJP led government has deliberately betrayed the tribals repeatedly and displayed its anti-tribal position. “Such attitude of the Government is creating and increasing our sense of insecurity within the BJP led State Government”, it added. While condemning such anti-tribal outburst, the ATSUM reminded the Chief Minister to uphold tribal interests as equal citizens of Manipur.