WMC urges Sonowal to back Manipuris of Assam
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 20 2020:
The World Meetei Convention has written to Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma along with a copy of the memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister of Assam by JAC for Safeguarding Indigenous Manipuri People of Assam, urging the Assam Government to kindly look into the matter as raised by the JAC.
Incidentally the JAC had submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Sonawal back on December 2, 2019 to include Manipuri language along with other State official languages of Assam in all written examinations conducted by different departments of the Government of Assam including the combined competitive examination conducted by the Assam Public Service Commission.
Chairman of World Meetei Convention, Heigrujam Nabashyam in his letter said, "the Meetei/Manipuri people have been living since the early 16th century in Assam and they are a part of the Assamese society.
"It may be mentioned that Ahom kings used to marry Meetei women including Meetei princesses establishing matrimonial alliances in the past.
"However the Assam Government's recent policy unfortunately victimises the Meetei/Manipuri community.
"It may also be mentioned that the CM of Manipur N Biren Singh had told the mass gathering of World Meetei Convention at Cachhar Assam on March 4, 2020 that he was assured by his Assam counterpart Sarbananda Sonowal that the Meetei/Manipuri community would not be victimised by the Assam Government! .
"Therefore, WMC earnestly request and urge you and the Assam Government to kindly look into the matter as raised by the JAC so that the injustice done to the Meetei/Manipuri people be undone in the larger interests of Assam," the letter further read.