Imphal, Oct 4: The Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) is advocating for the Manipuri language to be recognized as a Classical language, highlighting its cultural and historical significance.
Speaking at a press conference at Congress Bhawan today, O. Ibobi Singh, former Chief Minister and leader of the Congress Legislative Party (CLP), expressed confidence that Manipuri meets the criteria for this status. He noted that the language is included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution and the culture, tradition has a legacy spanning 3,000 years.
Singh emphasized the recognition of Nat Sankritan by UNESCO as a testament to Manipuri culture. He urged the current BJP-led government to acknowledge the importance of this initiative, mentioning that the state government had previously recommended Manipuri for Classical language status, with Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba working toward this goal. He called for transparency from authorities regarding the criteria for recognition.
In a separate matter, the MPCC also condemned the recent looting of arms from the Ukhrul Police Station during violent clashes between two villages over a land dispute. The incident, which occurred on October 2, the International Day of Non-Violence—resulted in four fatalities and numerous injuries.
MPCC President Keisham Meghachandra Singh criticized the state government for a troubling trend of arms looting during violent outbreaks. He suggested that the supply of weapons to conflict areas is more prevalent than theft, using the Ukhrul incident as an example of the home department’s failures. Singh questioned the security of weapons in police stations and criticized district authorities for their inaction in preventing the violence.
He appealed to the Tangkhul community in Ukhrul to prioritize peace and cooperation in the aftermath of the clashes and called for the state government to take responsibility for the ongoing security challenges in the region.
