Pangals are not indigenes of the land : KKL
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 17 2023: In the wake of demand raised by Pangals that they should be included in the Scheduled Tribe list of the Constitution of India, the Kangleipak Kanba Lup Manipur has categorically stated that 'Pangals are not indigenous people of Manipur' .

In a statement, KKL Manipur asserted that historical analysis should be based on facts and figures and it should be done in a scientific manner.

While analysing history, anthropology, archaeological findings, literature including ancient texts and oral history should be discussed at length, it said.

With regard to texts stating that Pangals came to Manipur during the reign of Khagempa Ningthou (1597-1652 AD), KKL maintained that 'such texts are without facts and figures and there is no evidence to validate these texts' .

However there are scientific evidences to prove that some Pangals came to Manipur during the reign of Bheigyachandra and ever since the influx of Pangals continues till date, KKL added.

Though Pangals started settling here and married Manipuri women, all of them are not related to Meetei/Meiteis and they can't be termed as the indigenous people of Manipur , it maintained.

KKL went on to state that in India, ST status is given only to 'indigenous people', therefore the demand for ST status in the context of Manipur is applicable to the indigenous people only comprising of those communities which have their roots to the seven Salai (clans) and 'not for Easterner or Westerner migrants who came during 18th and 19th Century AD' .

Therefore KKL maintained that claims made on distorted history should be stopped immediately.

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