'Lamka' replaces Ccpur in SBI prog banner
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, September 29 2023: In what could escalate the already volatile situation in the state in the aftermath of the ethnic clash between the Meeteis and the Kukis, the State Bank of India (SBI) organised a programme in Bungmual village in Churachandpur district where Churachandpur has been replaced by 'Lamka' in the banner used for the programme.

In an event organised by SBI at the Young Paite Association hall in Bungmual, the banner was inscribed as "Financial Literacy Awareness Programme, Digital Financial Literacy Awareness Programme" organised by "SBI, Financial Literacy and Credit Counseling Centre, Lead bank office, Lamka".

At the "district and block" row, it was written as 'Lamka' instead of the official Churachandpur giving legitimacy to 'Lamka' district by SBI authorities.

Though the address mentioned in the banner could be taken as simply backdrop of a simple programme, yet the time and place of the event could be construed as an attempt to escalate the already burning issue of Manipur.

The SBI seems to forget that a government exist in the state of Manipur and that it could hurt sentiment of the people of the state.

Instead of writing the original district name as Churachandpur, the SBI took the liberty of naming it as 'Lamka' as had been advocated by the Kuki people.

It is as if SBI has accorded official recognition to the name 'Lamka' .

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