Separate code mooted for Sanamahi religion
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 05 2022: The Manipur Legislative Assembly today reaffirmed its resolution on recording Sanamahi religion in the census report and allotment of a separate code for Sanamahi faith in the census operation.

MLA Khongbantabam Ibomcha raised a private member resolution to reaffirm the resolution adopted earlier by the House in this regard.

Notably, it was the day's last agenda of the House.

BJP MLA Kh Ibomcha recalled that former MLA Okram Joy raised a private member resolution in the State Assembly on July 31, 2002 regarding Sanamahi religion and a House committee was constituted on the same day.

On August 1, 2003, the State Assembly adopted a resolution to urge the Government of India to include Sanamahi religion in the census report and allot a separate code for the religious group in the census operation.

Kh Ibomcha pointed out that Manipur was an independent kingdom and it was never a part of India before the Manipur Merger Agreement 1949.There is a clause in the Manipur Merger Agreement which says that the Government of India would protect and uphold socio-economy, religious practices, culture and traditions of Manipur, he said.

In addition, the Constitution guarantees every citizen of the country the right to freedom of religion and there is a provision in the Constitution for protection of religious and ethnic minorities, he pointed out.

He then urged the House to reaffirm the resolution adopted by the same House on August 1, 2003 .

Supporting the private member resolution, K Meghachandra said that reaffirmation of the particular resolution was the need of the hour.

Later, the State Assembly reaffirmed the resolution of August 1, 2003 .

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