Government should declare Sanamahi as minority religion, says O Joy

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Feb 14 : Ex-MLA O Joy has urged the State Government to declare Sanamahi as a religious minority.
Addressing a press meet organised by Yelhou-Mee Thoupei at Manipur Press Club today, O Joy conveyed that there are about three lakh Sanamahi followers among the total 30 lakh population of Manipur.
Saying that the followers can be considered as minorities as per the number, Joy pointed out that the State Government should do the needful to announce Sanamahi as a religious minority.
He continued that the religion, which is deeply rooted to the history and culture of the State, will disappear from the earth just like the vanishing of Meiteis from Burma, if a person/ Sanamahi follower is apprehensive about the religion it has faith in.
The religion will no longer exist if the people fail to protect, uphold and promote it, he stressed while adding that the future of the people in the State will be in grave danger in the 2021 census if the State Government fails to realise the problem and do the needful at the earliest.
He maintained that the upcoming census is just a year away and it would be too late to do anything as the succeeding census ill be delayed about 11 years.
Joy further appealed to the State Government to assign a separate code for Sanamahi religion in the 2020-21 census operations.
Saying that there are about 100 groups/communities in India who are demanding separate codes, he noted that there are many small groups in the State as well.
He further stated that the State Assembly moved a resolution regarding Sanamahi religion in 2002 and added that a committee chaired by Dr Nara of CPI was formed with him, as the mover of the resolution and N Biren as one of the member.
The committee had also submitted the resolution to the house but no positive steps have been taken up till date, even after 16 years, which is unfortunate on the part of the State Government, he asserted.
He further appealed the N Biren led State Government to consider the matter and declare Sanamahi as  a minority religion as he was one of the member of the committee which submitted the resolution.
Volunteers and members of Ipanat Ipunat Kanba Lup, Kairang Nongpok Chingkhei Kanba Lup Pungdongbam, Lainingthou Malem Anganba Thougal Kanglup Sana Konung, Kanglei Enat Yokhat Lup Nambol, Universal Family Organisation, Kangla Khunthokyal Apunba Luplen, Kanglei Salai Apunba Luplen, Arapti, Khurai Ahongpung Khurai Lamlong, International Sanamahi Students Association, CCSK Maichou Ningsing Lup, Amai Piba Apul Lup Kangleipak, LAILUP, Laiyam Kangleipak, Huipha Huithapa Lup Kangleipak and Kangla Panthou 64 Kangla Ingba Mangang were present at the press meet.