Respect religion, culture: Minister Dr Rajan to protesters
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, December 09 2024: Health and IPR minister Dr Sapam Ranjan acknowledged that it is natural for the public to protest against their leaders to express dissatisfaction over certain issues, but emphasised the need for them to respect the Meetei religion, culture and traditions even during such agitations.

On Monday, the people of Konthoujam assembly constituency extended monetary as well as material contribution for repairing the house of the minister, which had been damaged during a public protest over killing of three children and three women by armed Kuki militants in Jiribam.

Expressing heartfelt gratitude to the public for their gesture, minister Ranjan said it is only natural for the people of the state to feel sorrow and heartbreak over murder of the three children and three women after abduction by groups of armed Kuki.

He acknowledged the pain and anguish caused by the tragic incident, while conceding that destruction of houses and burning of residences of ministers and MLAs, were due to government's failure to resolve the crisis.

While noting the public's frustration, he suggested that Meeteis involved in such agitations should respect own religion, customs and traditions, with apparent reference to the protesters targeting Lainingthou Sanamahi temples in his residential complexes at Sanakeithel and Konthoujam.

He lamented that even sacred structures were not spared by the protesters and appealed that such actions should never happen again in the future.

Minister Ranjan also condemned the looting from his house by some miscreants who took advantage of the chaotic situation.

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