Imphal, March 10 2009: Various civil organizations expressed their strong disapprovals against the decision of the present government led by Chief Minister, O Ibobi over the decision of entrusting all indigenous religion affairs to the Govindajee Temple Board Luwang Nonghum Shang (LNS) in a press statement said that the decision of the SPF led government to place the indigenous faith of Umang Lai Haraoba, and its related rituals under the Govindaji Temple Board (GTB) is a very divisive decision.

The statement also strongly condemned the decision.

The LNS then appealed the SPF government to roll back its decision before the assembly sitting on March 17 while also warning to fight a legal battle against the GTB if the government fails to repeal its decision within the said date.

At the same time, the Sana Konung Semgat Lup (SKSL), Palace Compound in a statement signed by its secretary, P Araba Mangang said that a group of 37 civil organizations which constituted SKSL assembled at the office of SKSL and unanimously resolved to take equal responsibility to take up various kinds of agitations against the decision of the SPF government to entrust the indigenous faith of Umang-Lai under the GTB in a cabinet sitting on February 17 last while saying that the decision of the Cabinet as very unfortunate.

The government should run an indigenous religion court in the state and maintain it under the Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple Act, 1976.Every Indian citizen knows that India is a sovereign, socialist, secular and democratic nation.

The act of the state government is against the secularism of the nation, misinterpreting the Article 26 (B) of the Indian Constitution and is also dishonoring the verdict of the honourable Guwahati High Court, it demanded.

Various other organizations including Lamphel Sana Keithek Development Authority, The Phaknung Village Development Committee, The Wangoo Laipham Women Social Reformers Organization, The Lamlai Development Committee, The Southern Rural Development Organization (SRDO), Lainingthou Pangalba Committee, Khundrakpam, The Yumnam Khunou Apunba Meetei Irup, The Yumjao Lairemba Lairembi Development Committee and The Ereima Ema Kumja Haraoba Committee Sekta, Loushangkhong, Heikakmapal in different press releases also expressed their strongest condemnations against the decision of the state government.

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