Imphal: The World Meetei Council hit back at former UNLF leader R.K. Meghen. He claimed the Meetei push for Scheduled Tribe status is a minor issue backed by few. The council calls these claims false. They insist the movement holds massive support across every Meetei village in Manipur.
Chairman Heigrujam Nabashyam pointed to hard data to back their position. A 2024 mass missed-call campaign pulled in over 10 lakh responses from an estimated population of 15 lakh. That is a clear mandate. Back in 2015, the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee of Manipur drew 1.5 lakh people to a single rally.
Meghen’s comments are wrong. The council labeled his statements as "false and misleading" in a recent press release. They argue this goal represents the true will of the majority.
The group also looked to the legal horizon. They want the government to act on the August 1, 2024 Supreme Court ruling. That judgment allows sub-classification within reserved groups. The council believes tribal communities should push for these changes instead of blocking the democratic path of others. They remain open to talking, but only if the facts stay straight.
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