Not another Babri Masjid incident
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: November 01, 2012 -

Every community has their own beliefs and faiths and accordingly they consider certain places associated with their history as sacred.

These sacred places are considered so important that certain individuals who are deeply rooted in their own faith would even willingly sacrifice their lives for the protection of these sacred sites.

On the other hand, India being a secular country, all the citizens are given the liberty to follow their own faiths and religions.

It is the duty of the government to see that no individual has been forced to follow another faith against their wishes.

It is also the responsibility of the government to protect and preserve the sacred sites of all the communities.

However, there have been certain cases where the state machinery miserably failed to provide the basic security required, thus, leading to clashes and riots among different communities.

The destruction of Babri Masjid, the 16th century mosque in Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh on December 6, 1992, was carried out by Hindu Karsevaks in an attempt to reclaim the land known as Ram Janmabhoomi.

The demolition occurred after a religious ceremony turned violent and resulted in several months of inter-communal rioting between Hindu and Muslim communities, causing death of at least 2000 people.

This was one of the few examples where demolition and destruction of a sacred place of one community by another community led to extreme communal violence thereby resulting in loss of several innocent lives. Such cases have happened in India and there is no guarantee that it might not happen in future again.

Coming to the state of Manipur, a land with various ethnic groups having their own beliefs and faiths can very well be a breeding ground for communal riots, considering the number of ethnic tribes following different faiths.

Just a day back, a group of pilgrims, who are said to be members of Poirei Amai Loishang (a branch of Apokpa Marup) went to worship Lainingthou Koubru Ashuppa at the Koubru cave located atop Koubru hill, which is considered to be a sacred site by the Meetei community.

To their surprise, the pilgrims found the mouth of the cave where the believers offer floral tributes, had been blocked with rocks and stones, apart from erecting two crosses at the entrance of the cave. The crosses were inscribed with wordings, and the date given as 'October 23-26'.

The sacred site of a community being defiled by certain individuals taking the name of another community is indeed a matter of serious concern.

The State Government should remain alert and prohibit any untoward incident from happening, lest the blockage of Koubru cave along with erection of two crosses at the entrance of the cave turns to another 'Babri Masjid demolition incident'.

By the way, why were the pilgrims who claim themselves to be indigenous Meeteis were seen with 'Trishul', normally used by Hindu saints while performing religious rites at a place considered sacred by the Meeteis?