KAKHAL expresses discontent over ignorance of minorities' issues by political parties
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 23 2022:
Kangla Khunthokyai Apul Luplel (KAKHAL) has appealed to the indigenous religious minorities residing in the State specially followers of Sanamahi, Pakhangba and the Kabui community to abstain from voting for any political candidate and instead choose NOTA.
In a statement, KAKHAL laid down their grievances against the political candidates of the ensuing State Assembly election, 2022 for not including the issues of the religious minorities in Manipur in their party manifestos.
KAKHAL stated that the condition of the indigenous religious minorities in the State is degrading day by day and added that Sanamahi and Pakhangba followers have been reduced to the status of a micro-minority due to their dwindling numbers and worsening economic conditions in comparison with other tribal/Muslim communities.
However, the State Government has repeatedly ignored the appeals to conduct a Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) of the Meitei community.
The statement claimed that censuses have been conducted for all the different communities in the State but the Meitei community has not been provided with this facility.
And none of the political candidates have brought up the SECC issue pertaining to this community, KAKHAL asserted.
Further, the 2000 year old history of Manipur has been diligently carved by the indigenous population but none of the political parties have touched upon the topic of protection of the indigenous population of Meitei and Kabui community, KAKHAL maintained.
The statement went on to say that none of these political parties vying to become leaders of the State have stood up for the inclusion of Meiteis in the ST list and neither have they taken up initiatives for the conservation of religious heritage sites which are constantly under threat of desecration.
Aside from this, no attempts have been made to declare Sanamahi and Pakhangba followers as a religious minority or pour efforts to uplift these religions to the status of other major religions like Sikhism, Buddhism etc.
KAKHAL called it unfortunate that none of the political parties in the State are willing to stand up for the issues of the indigenous religious minorities.
As such, the Organisation has urged people of these communities to vote for NOTA.