IMPHAL, September 9 (NNN): The Outer Manipur Tribal Forum (OMTF) and the Joint Action Committee Against Anti Tribal Bills (JAC-AATB) held a meeting with Manipur Governor Dr Najma Heptullah at Raj Bhavan in Imphal today and "detailed the political marginalisation and developmental exclusion faced by the indigenous tribals in Manipur".
The delegation asserted to the Governor the need for a solution that is "sustainable and acceptable to the tribals". The Governor was also apprised of the "plight" of the tribal people, which it claimed has “magnified with the passing of the infamous anti tribal bills" by the Manipur legislative assembly last year.
"Neither the Union Government nor the State Government show any genuine interest to address the issue including the mortal remains of the nine tribal martyrs still awaiting an honourable burial," the delegation maintained.
The team submitted a memorandum to the Governor where it asserted that no new bill or resolution would be accepted by the tribal people unless appropriate and satisfactory steps are taken towards the total nullification of the "two pending anti tribal bills", and unless the matter of the "nine martyrs" are resolved to the satisfaction of the tribal people.
With the "three anti tribal bills being political in nature, only an acceptable political solution for the tribals will meet the need of the hour," the memorandum maintained.
