Newmai News Network
Imphal | September 22
The Gangte Tribe Co-Ordination Committee, Manipur (GTCC) expressed unhappiness on the alleged interference in the "Gangte tribe's internal affairs" by the Mizo People Convention Sub-Headquarters (MPC Sub HQs).
In a statement issued to Newmai News Network on September 22, the GTCC alleged that they are astonished by the MPC Sub HQs's "relentless and insolent" interference on Gangte tribe’s internal affairs and their provocative utterance and statements against the Gangte tribe.
"We believe in peaceful coexistence with all cognate tribes and neighboring communities. We never expect anybody to interfere in our internal affairs, nor do we interfere in the affairs of others," the GTCC said.
"The MPC Sub-Hqs’ ‘Clarification’ dated September 3 which appeared in some dailies was nothing but another attempt to provoke the Gangtes and we cannot remain a silent spectator to all these machinated intrigues," it asserted.
The GTCC also said that the leadership of MPC Headquarters, Manipur and other Mizo bodies elsewhere fervently appealed for one last time to rein in the ‘MPC Sub-Hq Chiengkon’ whose "unrestrained incendiary activities", if not curbed, are bound to disturb the cordial relations shared between the Gangtes and the Mizos.
The GTCC then cautioned that the MPC Sub-Hqs shall be solely held responsible for any unwarranted consequences or misunderstandings arising between the Gangte tribe and the Mizo tribe of Manipur.
"It is indeed a fact that the Gangte Tribe Union had on March 16, 1960 in its General Assembly held at Khousabung adopted ‘Mizo’ as the nomenclature of the Gangtes…The MPC Sub-Hq shamelessly claims that the Khousabung General Assembly resolution was ratified on February 10, 1999 at HmuiaVeng," the Gangte body said, adding, "Their assertion is baseless, deceitful, devoid of any iota of truth and smacks of conspicuous hypocrisy."
The GTCC then said, "The fact is that the Gangte tribe was ‘merged’ into Mizo tribe under the auspices of some vested pseudo-Gangte leaders against the wish of the Gangte people at Hmuia Veng, Churachandpur on February 10, 1999.
After the ‘merger’ of the Gangte apex bodies into Mizo, the question of adopting Mizo as a ‘nomenclature’ does not arise," the GTCC clarified.
It then said that the Gangte and the Mizo are two different entities. "Gangte is placed at Sl. No. 6 of the tribe list of Manipur while Mizo is at Sl. No. 17 of the same list.
If at all any Gangte tribe member accepts merger of Gangte tribe into Mizo, he/she naturally disowns his/her ascriptive identity (Gangte) and becomes/adopts Mizo.
For such people who willingly adopt Mizo as their identity, interfering in the affairs of Gangte tribe is unjust, untenable and defies all logics.
As such, they shall no longer have a say or enjoy any entitlement in the name of Gangte. Therefore, by all logics, Mizo People Convention has no authority to speak for and on behalf of the Gangtes,” the GTCC added.
Further stating, "We do not harbor any misgivings against any person who willingly adopts other tribes, including Mizo, as their identity and show the highest respect to free individual choice."
"However, we will not tolerate any act of interference in our internal affairs from other tribes’ platforms," it added.
According to the GTCC, this will only invite unwarranted chain of action and reactions.
GTCC is the only mandated body to speak for and on behalf of the Gangtes and no other individuals and bodies like the ‘MPC Sub-Hqs', it further claimed.
"The GTCC leaves its door open to any Mizo organisations/bodies for discussions over the matter on the table," it added.