MPCC accuses BJP leaders of distorting history
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, January 08 2023: Strongly disapproving Union home minister Amit Shah identifying Manipur as Mahabharata's Manipur in the present Odisha state and Manipuri people as the descendants of Mahabharata's Arjun, Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has categorically stated that Amit Shah is becoming the second Shantidas Gosai in view of his distortion of Manipur's history.

Addressing media persons at Congress Bhawan, here, on Sunday, MPCC president MLA K Meghachandra said that Manipur has more than 2000 years of written history but Union home minister Amit Shah contradicted Manipur's history by linking it to Mahabharata's Manipur, which indeed is located in the present Indian state of Odisha.

During his visit to the state a few days back, Amit Shah said in a public function that Meetei people are the descendants of Mahabharata's Arjun but it is clearly mentioned in the Royal Chronicle of Manipur that Ibudhou Nongda Lairen Pakhangba was the first king of Manipur, he said.

Terming as very unfortunate of Amit Shah describing Nongda Lairen Pakhangba as descendent of Mahabharata's Arjun and distortion of Manipur's history, K Meghachandra said that Amit Shah should not have made such statement and dishonoured Manipur's history.

However, Amit Shah is not the first BJP leader to make such statements as CM N Biren had already made many points unrelated with the history of Manipur in the past, first in a public function in Gujarat in 2018 and then again in Guwahati in 2019.Attempts being made by BJP leaders to distort the history of Manipur are nothing but to link Manipur to Mahabharata's Manipur as a part of Hindutva agenda and this indeed is very unfortunate, Meghachandra said and demanded that Amit Shah clarify on his statement regarding the history of Manipur at the earliest.

CLP leader O Ibobi Singh, who also attended the press conference, said that facts of history cannot be manipulated or distorted but Union home minister Amit Shah talked many things unrelated with the history of Manipur during his visit to the state on January 6.Terming Amit Shah's remark as unfortunate, O Ibobi said that the Union home minister and Manipur chief minister talked as if they are authority but they should not forget that there are many historians and intellectuals who know much more than them.

Let the historians decide if the remarks made by Amit Shah and CM Biren on the history of Manipur were fact or not, he added.

According to Ibobi, government will come and go and it is natural for new government to complete incomplete tasks left by the past government.

However, the present BJP government talks as if the past government did nothing for the development of the state.

The BJP government claims of bringing students from outside for studying medical courses in the state during their tenure but they should understand that RIMS has been a regional medical institute for a long time and many students from outside come to study medical at JNIMS, which was established by the past government.

Not only this, National Institute of Technology was established during the Congress government and many students from outside are now studying at the institute.

The past UPA government led by Congress introduced Look East Policy but the BJP government replaced it with Act East Policy but has been unable to bring anything significant other than rhetorical speeches, he said.

Regarding Churachandpur Medical College, which was inaugurated by Amit Shah on January 6, Ibobi Singh pointed out that a cabinet decision for establishment of the medical college was taken during the Congress government and land for its complex was too identified.

However, the present government is gloating as if the past government did nothing about establishment of a medical college in the hills, Ibobi said.

Regarding the polo statue at Ibudhou Marjing complex, Heingang also inaugurated by Amit Shah, he said that it was sanctioned as an integrated mega tourist complex by the Congress government and Pony Policy was also introduced during the Congress government in 2014.Ibobi also recalled how the Congress government under his leadership took a bold step to withdraw AFSPA from some areas of Imphal despite strong opposition from the Centre.

The press conference was also attended by deputy CLP leader MLA K Ranjit, MLA Th Lokeswar and many MPCC functionaries.

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