AMMOCOC rectifies misinformation
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 13 2019: Responding to a series of resolutions adopted during a seminar organised by Meitei Pangal Khunthok Ningshing Thouram Committee (Meipak Ningthou Committee), All Manipur Muslim Organisations' Co-ordinating Committee (AMMOCOC) has condemned that the seminar was controversial and provocative regarding the origin of Pangal community in Manipur.

Speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club today, AMMOCOC spokesperson Rahij Ahamed maintained that every decision concerning the Pangals will be taken by the community itself and that no other person/organisation is entitled to take this role.

It maintained that the history of Pangals or any issues related to their identity will be academically deliberated by Pangals and added that conducting a seminar, which traced the history of Pangals, by a group of mainstream CSOs with only one Pangal organisation was unfortunate.

It continued that there is no Meitei Pangals in historical accounts and the organisation does not endorse the newly added name.

Pangals have been living as Pangals from time immemorial, he added.

The organisation condemned the alleged proposition or I discussion of pangals as refugees of war while adding that Pangals are aware of its history and no other community will be allowed to create the history of Pangals.

It stated that the organisation strongly condemns the propo sition to observe "Settlement Day" by considering 1606 as the benchmark for settlement/arrival of Pangals in the State, without having proper understanding of the said history.

AMMOCOC asserted that many history books written by Pangals were either destroyed or banned in the early days and added that now, any books written against the Pangals will be destroyed as well.

It questioned the agenda of organising the seminar especially at a time when the State is facing a dilemma with regard to the Naga political dialogue.

Further questioning the authenticity of Meipak Ningthou Committee, it asked if the dignitaries who attended the seminar are historians or experts qualified to even trace the history of Pangals.

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