Gaan-Ngai controversy irks ZU
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 04 2020:
The Zeliangrong Union (Assam, Manipur & Nagaland) has come out strongly against the controversy surrounding the organisation of the State Level Gaan-Ngai Festival this year, resulting from many alleged festival committees claiming rights to host the event.
Speaking to media persons, ZU (AMN) president Amu Kamei reminded that Gaan-Ngai is not a recent event.
It is a festival which has existed since the ancient times.
During the time of Chief Minister W Nipamacha, Professor Gangumei and others worked hard to ensure that the State Cabinet approves restricted holiday for Gaan-Ngai.
A little later, Gaan-Ngai became a general holiday and eventually, Zeliangrong Union began organising Gaan-Ngai as a State level festival from 1995.He continued that till 2016, the five Zeliangrong tribes (Zeme, Liangmei, Rongmei, Puimei and Kabui) have been observing Gaan-Ngai festival in unity.
However, with the coming of the BJP Government, another celebration committee, called AZACO (TRC) came up.
Owing to certain issues, the matter reached the High Court of Manipur and eventually, the High Court issued a directive on April 9 last year, instructing the two organisations (AZACO-TRC and ZU) to nominate two members each so as to work together and organise the festival.
He then claimed that at such a critical juncture, news began circulating that the festival would be organised by an organisation called the Manipur Kabui Union (MKU).
If the news is indeed true, it evokes a serious question whether there is an attempt to harm the unity among the Zeliangrong tribes, he said, adding that a memorandum regarding the issue was submitted to the Chief Minister yesterday.