Liangmai students against UGCM stand
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network

Imphal, August 02 2016: The position of the 'Gorkha' community in Manipur presented by the United Gorkha Committee Manipur (UGCM) has been stiffly opposed by the Liangmai Naga Katimai Ruangdi (LNKR) or All Liangmai Students Union.

The Gorkha community has been demanding "native status" in Manipur reasoning that this is based on its "ancestry and historical settlement in Manipur" .

Irked by the demand made by the Gorkha community, the apex body of the Liangmai community, Liangmai Naga Council (LNC) had ridiculed such an explanation a few days ago.

Endorsing the position of the LNC, the LNKR asserted that it will thwart the move of the Gorkha body in this regard with all available resources.

"We are all prepared to oppose any move from any quarter that will have an adverse impact on our land, our people, our history and our future," the Liangmai student body further asserted.

The LNKR has also strongly condemned the statement of the United Gorkha Committee.

It is worth noting here that last month, the Liangmai Naga Council, Manipur (LNC-M) had expressed its strong opposition to the "campaign" carried out by the Nepali community residing in Manipur "asserting themselves as natives of the State and their consequent demand for village administration authority" .

According to LNC-M, a good number of Nepalese are "living in Liangmai ancestral land under the so called Sadar Hills areas".

The LNC-M stated that apart from "some stray individuals" based outside the area that "consistently plant and instigate ideas" to disturb the peaceful existence, the age old landowner-tenant relationship between the native tribal Nagas and Nepalese is in practice till today.

The LNC-M said, "It is imperative for the Government and all sincere hearted people to revisit histories and consult the stakeholders while dealing with volatile matters such as the present one and not be blinded by the foxy narratives of certain groups alone" .

According to the Liangmai apex body, in the 1930s the then British regime, without consulting the tribal land owners, permitted the Nepalese to enter Irang areas for the limited purpose of grazing their cattle.

The said arrangement was for Nepalese to temporarily stay on payment of grazing tax to the Government wherein the villagers of Thonglang were authorized to collect the tax from the Nepali households.

However, the Gorkha apex body maintained that "since time immemorial every community in the State have been living in dignity by maintaining cordial relationship with their neighbouring brethren" and asserted that the "Liangmai Naga Council has no moral right to comment on the status of the Gorkha community in Manipur" .

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