Imphal, March 18 2009:: The issue of the authority over the Umanglai (indigenous religion) will be discussed at the time when the matter reached the House, Chief Minister, O Ibobi, who is also the Chairman of the Shree Govindajee Temple Board said today while responding to a calling attention motion during the Assembly session.

Responding to the Calling Attention motion moved by the MPP leader, O Joy, NCP leader, RB Koijam, House Members Dr Ng Bijoy, RK Anand, Dr L Ibohanbi over the cabinet decision to introduce the Govindajee Temple Board (Amendment) Bill, the Chief Minister, O Ibobi said that Government has not put the issue to the Business Advisory Committee and as such the government has no agenda to discuss the matter.

The Chief Minister said that the Govindajee Temple Board Bill cannot be amended by the Government at will.

The issue will be surely placed before the House someday and the matter will be discussed when that time come.

The Government will feel the pulse of the people on the issue.

He further said that the Govindajee Temple Board Act was passed in 1972 and after a lapse of 37 years, there have still been many breaches and it has been unable to perform several works.

He said that the Umanglai is like a clan-based religion which has different names at different places while citing that it has been given different names each at Thoubal and Khangabok.

Above all, the rituals of Umanglai have been performed by the Pandit Loisang.

Giving his suggestion to the motion moved by the opposition MLAs, Congress MLA and Vice-Chairman of Govindajee Temple Board, Elangbam Kunjekishore said that the rituals of the Umanglai have been performed by the Pandit Loisang since the Govindajee Temple Board Act was passed.

He said that the case was defeated in the High Court due to lack of knowledge of Manipuri culture on the part of the Advocate.

Kunjekishore also said that the affairs of Umanglai will remain under Pandit Loisang until an end is brought to the issue.

Moving the Calling Attention motion, MLA O Joy, while referring to a news report of Hueiyen Lanpao issue of February 18 over the cabinet decision of introducing the Bill, said that the attempt to place the affairs of Umanglai under Govindajee Temple Board can be interpreted as a re-incarnation of Shantidas Gossai.

MPP MLAs Dr Ibohalbi, Dr Ng Bijoy and RK Anand have also participated in the discussion while opposing the any move to place the affairs of Umanglai into Govindajee Temple Board.

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