Kabui Samiti Manipur
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, January 17 2022:
While strongly disapproving the remark made by Union minister of state RK Ranjan in a Gaan-Ngai celebration held at Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen on January 15 that it is the biggest festival of the Zeliangrong community, Kabui Samiti Manipur said the statement made by RK Ranjan indeed was very unfortunate and shameful.
Zeliangrong comprises three different communities and how could such groups be considered as a single entity, the Kabui jSamiti Manipur said in a statement and maintained that it was shameful for the Union minister to make such remark and naivety to understand one of the indigenous communities of Manipur.
According to the Samiti statement, Gaan-Ngai is being celebrated by Kabui forefathers since time immemorial and Gaan-Ngai is a Kabui word.
Kabui community has been listed in Scheduled Tribe list of Indian Constitution in the year 1952 and still remains in the list while Zeliangrong will not be found in the list, it said adding that people are suspicious if Kabui community is to be uprooted by giving a new name.
The Kabui Samiti Manipur also strongly disapproved that the statement made by State Level Gaan-Ngai Celebration Committee spokesperson Chunkeirung that Gaan-Ngai is inseparable to culture and religion of the Zeliangrong people.
Chunkeirung's real name is Kamei Chunkeirung Kabui (KC Kabui) and the self-styled spokesperson of the committee which organised the event at Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen seems unable to understand his root, the statement said and asked Chunkeirung if culture and religion could go together or not.
The Kabui Samiti Manipur statement further asked if Zeliangrong and TRC exist earlier than Kabui or whether Kabui people who do not follow Zeliangrong (TRC) are to be uprooted.
While asserting that Kabui Samiti Manipur will continue to preserve and promote rich culture left behind by Kabui forefathers, the statement appealed to the Union minister to make clear his thought on the matter.