Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, March 21 2009:
Denouncing the intention of the state government led by Chief Minister O Ibobi and referring to the speech of O Ibobi and MLA E Kunjakishore in the recently held state assembly, Umanglai Kanba Apunba Lup (UKAL) said in a press statement issued by its Convener M Maniton that the motion brought up by the above mentioned statesman during the assembly clearly indicated that the Meetei leaders seriously wanted to suppress the Meeteis.
The suppressive planning and speech of the ministers during the assembly session implied their indifference to situation if the Meeteis are extinct but to get a chance to rule the state acting as Bengali, Marwari or Bihari Minister.
On the contrary, prominent Tangkhul Leader, Yamangsho Shaiza cared for the Meetei folk and worked his best level to preserve the heritage and culture of Meeteis as a result the Sanamahi faith was able to grow.
UKAL affirmed that the current state leaders are mindless of state culture, betraying its folk and also intended to be dependant.
UKAL also said that the current authority is deceiving.
Refuting and resenting the statements made by Yaishkul A/CMLA E Kunjakishore, UKAL strongly condemned the statement of E Kunjakishore that Govindaji Temple Board had been the authority of all the religious conducts and Pandits of Umanglai since the passing of the Govindaji Temple Act in the year 1972 is extremely wrong, baseless and was misguiding the House.
Such speech of the MLA is likely to cause a religious crisis in the religiously harmonious state.
The UKAL statement also said that the King of Manipur can neither be crowned nor be suspended by the Indian constitution as this right is inherited from the heritage and tradition of the folk.
E Kunjakishore is completely ignorant about this fact said the UKAL statement.
UKAL reacted against a statement of the minister that there should not be any problem in surrendering the authority of the Govindaji management in the hand of MBC or Wakha Board if E Kunjakishore felt there isn't any problem in Govindaji Temple Board having authority over the Umanglai rituals.
The speech given by E Kunjakishore exhibited his conspiracy to restrain the historic faith of Umanglai and the Meetei community in the state.
UKAL also ruled out the statement of O Ibobi as fake and manipulated law.
The forceful attempt made by the state cabinet to manipulate the act despite the GTB was repeatedly warned not to interfere with Umanglai rituals is not a good sign.
UKAL enquired that if the Pandit Loishang which is claimed to have authority over Umanglai since the past 37 years according the above mentioned ministers to be the master of Umanglai then, what should the inherited master of the religion who had been pursuing this culture since 33 AD be? Pandit Loishang is doing nothing but interfering with others' religion.
Ukal claimed that non compliance of the CM's statement with his commitment is deceiving and mocking with the innocent public of the state.
UKAL also enquired the state government whether the behavior of the CM trying to implement unconventional rules which did not existed for his personal convenience is not hurting the sentiment of the public? Lastly, UKAL appealed to all that let pandits perform rituals in their temple and also let the Amaibas and Amaibis perform rituals for Umanglai.
There should not be any kind of interference to any religious activities of a religion.
All religion should be independent.
UKAL appealed to all the people of the state to aware and alert of the communal crisis invoking policy of the current state government.
Meanwhile several organizations including Thiyam Khunjao Ibudhou Phunan Ningthou Lai Haraoba Committee, Uchekon Moriba Thong Nupi Lup and the Social Reformer and Sporting Club deeply condemned the decision of the state government to render authority of the Umanglai in the hand of Govindaji Temple Board and also said such immature decision of the state government may bring into a risky social situation among the peacefully coexisting people of the state.