IT News
Imphal, March 2:
The Longmai Youth League and the Longmai Bazar Board reacting to the press statement by Longmai Pei (Customary Court) issued in the name of Secretary Pei, Gongjai Kamei which appeared in the Imphal Times evening daily paper on the 28th Feb, 2022.
A join statement by Keinebon Dangmei, President, Longma Youth League and Gail Gangmei, Longmai Bazar Board clarify that Longmai Pei (Customary Court) which is in custodian of Customary Law of Zeliangrong/Rongmei tribe at the grassroot level is highly esteemed by the general public of the village. However, the general public leaders and Pei members were not informed or discussed regarding the matter before the Secretary Pei (Customary Court) issued that statement. Hence, the statement does not represent the view and opinion of the general public of Longmai Village.
“Even though the Helipad and the ground at Longmai Part-I is owned by the Longmai Churches Fellowship (LCF) but it is the collective property of the village and there was no restriction on the part of LCF to the landing of Chopper carrying the Union Minister of State (Edn, External Affairs) Dr. RK Ranjan campaign trip to Longmai-3 for BJP candidate Dinganglung Gangmei (Dipu, IAS rtd) on the 26th Feb, 2022. They used the names of LCF to conceal their true colour because all those womenfolk and menfolk who participated in that event were family members and relatives of Gaidon Kamei led faction of the Congress party. Gongjai Kamei cannot hide those Facts to hoodwink the general public. It was also a fact known that those womenfolks who also started bonfire at the helipad on that day at LCF ground at the arrival of the chopper of the Hon’ble Union Minister was led by Mrs. Ningthoukaliu Kamei @ Athouliu (Elder Sister of Mr. Gaidon Kamei),wife of Gongjai Kamei, Mrs. Athiam Kamei(Eldest sister of Gaidon Kamei), other women and male accomplice were relatives of Gaidon Kamei Congress supporters”, the joint statement said.
It added that during election, all political parties and their supporters have been organising Public meetings and campaigns throughout the state and no permission is sought from any village for the democratic election held under MCC of the ECI. Why the question of prior permission arises when BJP election campaign meeting was organised, and why not the same yardstick applied in the case of Congress party and their meeting ? At a democratic election held under the constitution India, is Longmai Village a foreign land that permission is required? No one is above the law, and the law of the land shall prevail everywhere. This democratic election conducted by targeting a particular community, religious group, village etc. why accusing the election campaign of BJP Candidate by a Union Minister as a breach of integrity of Longmai Village, the statement said.
“This politically instigated statement does not represent the view and opinion of general public of Longmai but of the faction only. Therefore, the Longmai Youth League and the Longmai Bazar Board would like to appeal to the general public not to be misled by such one-sided statement of a handful of individuals in the name o the Longmai Pei . Further, appeal every electorate to exercise their franchise peacefully to make this election a result oriented one.”, the statement added.