IMPHAL, April 16: BJP’s Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba on Wednesday said restrictions imposed by some groups on visiting Thangjing, a sacred site for Meiteis, is a violation of freedom of religion guaranteed by the Constitution.
He said it would be hard for Meiteis to tolerate such restrictions for long as Thangjing has religious and cultural significance for the community.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event, the MP, who is also a member of the former royal family of Manipur said, “Peace process between the two sides has already been initiated by the Centre. At such a time when there is an understanding to restore peace, such fresh developments (restriction on visiting Thangjing) are unfortunate.”
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“The Centre can and should take relevant steps. If armed miscreants and some obstinate organisations are allowed to do whatever they want, it would be difficult to achieve peace and it would disturb normalcy,” he said.
He said that the recent objection to visiting the sacred Thangjing is a challenge to the freedom of religion guaranteed by the Constitution.
“Since time immemorial, Meiteis have been ascending to Thangjing for pilgrimage. It has religious and cultural significance for the community. No civilised group would object to others visiting their sacred place,” he said.
“While Meiteis are bearing such humiliation, this cannot be tolerated for long,” he added.
Any unwarranted act which affects the other community definitely has the potential to disturb peace, the MP said.
“The best way forward is for both Meiteis and Kukis who favour peace to exercise self-restraint so as not to provoke the other community. Otherwise, it will be difficult for peace to return soon,” he added.
Earlier, on April 14, following the advice of community elders, a large number of Meiteis aborted their plans to go to Thangjing hills in Churachandpur district and returned home from Moirang in Bishnupur district, as Kuki-Zo groups staged protests warning against the pilgrims crossing the ‘buffer zone’.
The distance between Moirang town in Bishnupur district and Thangjing hills is over 10 kilometres.
The buffer zone, which is heavily guarded by security forces, separates the Meitei-controlled Imphal Valley and the Kuki-dominated hill districts of the restive state.
Several Meitei devotees who had offered prayers on April 13 to prepare for the pilgrimage came back home after community elders persuaded them to return, citing the current situation at the sacred hill where armed Kuki men are allegedly present.
Meitei elders are also against the pilgrimage now and they want the community members to carry on with the journey later when the situation improves.
They said that the route to the sacred site at the top of Thangjing hills passes through thick forests and isolated areas and going through such areas in the prevailing situation can be dangerous for Meiteis.
Meitei community members take the annual pilgrimage in the month of April in accordance with the traditional Manipuri calendar system.
Thangjing Hill is considered a sacred site by the Meitei community, who traditionally visit it throughout the Manipur month of ‘Sajibu’ which generally falls in April. However, full moon day and days following it are considered the most auspicious ones.
On April 13, the full moon day, many Meitei pilgrims from various parts of the Imphal Valley offered prayers in Bishnupur and camped overnight in Moirang and surrounding areas, preparing for the pilgrimage in the days ahead.
Hundreds of Kuki-Zo community members, however, gathered at the Thangjing Hill and staged demonstrations on April 13, officials said.
The Kukis said that attempts to cross the buffer zone shall be considered a direct challenge to the Kuki-Zo community and if any untoward incident occurs during such attempts, those who undertake them would be responsible for it.
On April 12 as well, several Kuki-Zo civil society organisations “warned” the Meitei community against climbing the Thangjing Hill, stating that any such attempt “will be opposed tooth and nail”.
Six Kuki organisations have protested the entry of Meitei pilgrims to Thangjing hills.
Over 260 people have lost their lives since ethnic violence broke out between the Imphal valley-based Meitei and neighbouring hills-based Kuki communities in May 2023.
The clashes began after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ organised in the hill districts to protest against an order of the Manipur High Court on the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status.
President’s rule in Manipur was imposed on February 13 after the then chief minister N Biren Singh resigned on February 9. The state assembly, which has a tenure till 2027, has been put under suspended animation. (PTI)
