Former MP Salkhan Murmu Writes to President Seeking Action on Manipur Violence and Safeguarding Tribal Rights

Jamshedpur— In the aftermath of the horrifying video that surfaced recently, showcasing the brutal violence against tribal women in Manipur, citizens and activists across the nation have raised their voices in outrage and anguish. The incident has cast a dark shadow on humanity, and many are pointing fingers at the state government for its inaction and failure to curb the ongoing violence. In light of these developments, the Aadiwasi Sengel Abhiyan and its national president, former MP Salkhan Murmu, have written a heartfelt letter to the President of India, Draupadi Murmu, demanding immediate action to address the crisis.

The demands put forth in the letter are as follows:

• Dismissal of Manipur Government and Imposition of President's Rule: The Sengel Campaign has called for the immediate dismissal of the Manipur government, holding it accountable for the disturbing violence and for not taking adequate measures to ensure the safety of its citizens, particularly tribal women. In light of the escalating violence, the Campaign urges the imposition of President's rule in the state.

• CBI Investigation Supervised by Supreme Court Judge:

  To ensure an impartial and thorough investigation into the Manipur violence, the Tribal Sengel Campaign has requested the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to take up the case. They further emphasize the need for the investigation to be supervised by a judge from the Hon'ble Supreme Court, guaranteeing transparency and justice. It is suspected that the violence may be linked to the support of the majority upper Maitei caste, including the Chief Minister, and their efforts to attain scheduled tribe status, potentially jeopardizing the rights and safety of other tribes.

• Protecting Tribal Rights and Identity: The Campaign draws attention to the importance of preserving the identity and rights of real tribals. It emphasizes that without constitutional reservations, tribals cannot achieve justice, security, and equality. To safeguard the interests of genuine tribal communities, the Campaign calls for a halt in granting scheduled tribe status to any new caste for the next 30 years. Moreover, before including any new caste in the ST list, guarantees must be made to protect the existence, identity, and share of the already included tribes.

• CBI Inquiry into Assam Incident: The letter also highlights a past incident in Assam's capital, Guwahati, where a tribal woman named Laxmi Orang was subjected to humiliation and violence during a protest for scheduled tribe status on November 24, 2007. The Aadiwasi Sengel Abhiyan demands a CBI inquiry into this case as well, as it remains unresolved, raising suspicions of involvement by the Assam government.