Imphal, June 28: The issue of granting Scheduled Caste status to three villages by the Okram Ibobi Singh government rocked the morning session of the Manipur Assembly today, with two Opposition Scheduled Caste legislators demanding immediate action against the officials who issued the certificates.

The government granted Scheduled Caste status to the inhabitants of Kakching, Pallel and Chairen villages in Thoubal district. The move evoked angry reactions from the existing eight Scheduled Caste villages known as Lois. The legislators accused the government of distributing certificates to the people of the three villages.

The move has been strongly opposed by the All Manipur Scheduled Caste Association. They are holding daily sit-in protests at Khukhul, a Scheduled Caste village in Imphal West. Yesterday, the protesters burnt effigies of the chief minister, tribal development minister and deputy commissioners of Thoubal district. ?We have nothing against the people of the three villages. But the government?s decision cannot be justified, it will just create more problems. The government will not be able to do anything if the Scheduled Caste community decide to take things into their own hands,? said one of the legislators.

S. Chadra, elected from Andro, a Scheduled Caste constituency, brought up the issue in the Assembly and said the government?s move was unconstitutional and directly violated a Supreme Court ruling. ?Only eight villages of Manipur were recognised as Scheduled Caste villages by a presidential proclamation in 1956. Article 341 (I) of the Constitution says if fresh Scheduled Caste status is to be granted to any village, then it can only be done by the Centre in consultation with the state government,? Chadra said. ?The officials who were issuing the certificates should be booked immediately. They are not above the Constitution.?

Another Scheduled Caste legislator, N. Biren Singh, did not mince his words in expressing anger against the government?s decision. He demanded immediate withdrawal of the decision.

Tribal development minister, Phungzathang Tonsing, said the government was looking into the matter and would try its best to find a peaceful solution. ?The chief minister is consulting legal experts to sort out the problem,? he said.

But the reply failed to mollify the disgruntled legislators.