UGCM refutes LNC, UCM allegations
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 31 2016: Strongly refuting the allegations levelled by the Liangmai Naga Council (LNC) and United Committee Manipur (UCM), the United Gorkha Committee Manipur has made a lengthy clarification today.

A press communique of the Gorkha apex body signed by its information and publicity secretary Devi Prasad Thapa said the Gorkhas in Manipur have been demanding State native status to the State Government considering its ancestry and historical settle- ment in the State.

The demand was necessitated by the development in the State following the demand for ILPS.

The Gorkha community believes that they are eligible for the State native status from all aspects and the Liangmai Naga Council has no right to comment on the status of the Gorkha community in Manipur, it stated.

The Gorkha settlement in Irang area also known as Irang Grazing Reserve along IT road in Sadar Hills dates back to a period before 1920.The Gorkhas have been paying grazing tax to the Government since the time and not as alleged by the LNC in their state- ment.

Time and circumstances demanded changes in profession and the Gorkhas turned to cultivation in the same grazing reserve area.

The question of tenant, there- fore, does not arise after around 100 years.

On the UCM president's allegation that Nepali UG group has been formed at Kangpokpi, UGCM said there are no Nepali underground group in Kangpokpi area as far as the knowledge of the UGCM is concerned.

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