KIM agrees to erase 'ancestral land' from memorial stones
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 16 2019:
The Kuki Inpi Manipur and the Anglo-Kuki War Centenary Commemoration Committee have agreed to take out the words, 'In defence of our ancestral land and freedom' and instead insert 'In defence of dignity and freedom' from the memorial stones erected to mark the centenary of the Anglo-Kuki rebellion, after a marathon meeting with Chief Minister N Biren and some of his Cabinet colleagues at the CM's Secretariat today evening.
It was also agreed that the State Government will declare November 17 as a restricted holiday as a mark of respect to the Kuki martyrs who laid down their lives in the fight against the British.
It was also agreed that a memorial site for the martyrs will be opened at a suitable site at Greater Imphal.
Anglo-Kuki war will also be replaced by Kuki rebellion.
The decision to inscribe the words, 'In defence of our ancestral land and freedom' on the memorial pillars had evoked strong protest from the Naga civil society organisations, with the Tangkhul Naga Long asserting that the day may be observed but the words, 'ancestral land' should be taken out.
The All Naga Students' Association, Manipur had also opposed the words to be inscribed on the memorial stones arguing that it is against distortion of history, arguing that it cannot be called ancestral land of the Kukis.
AMUCO, UCM and PANDM had also strongly opposed the use of the words 'In defence of ancestral land'.
The State Government had also issued a notification ordering that the words, 'ancestral land' should be erased from the memorial pillars.
On the other hand, the UPF and the KNO, the two Kuki armed groups under SoO pact with the Government of India and the State Government of Manipur had earlier written to the Centre to ask the State Government to revoke the order to remove the said words from the memorial stones.