Newmai News Network Imphal | June 30 The Liangmai Naga Council, Manipur (LNC-M) has stated that “we have no other option but to disassociate ourselves from every social organization of the erstwhile Zeliangrong bodies”. The LNC (M) stated this in a letter to the Zeliangrong Baudi (Assam, Manipur and Nagaland) and Zeliangrong Union (Assam, Manipur and Nagaland) where it ‘requested’ the two bodies to strike out “liang” from the Zeliangrong nomenclature. Explaining the reasons for its move, the apex body of the Liangmais stated the decision to “disassociate” from Zeliangrong organizations was taken during the Liangmai People’s Convention held on October 9, 2015, at Konsaram village, “if they (Zeliangrong bodies) stand and promote Zeliangrong as a tribe.” According to the LNC, the term ‘Zeliangrong’ is a social organization comprising of three individual tribes i.e. Zeme, Liangmai and Rongmei. “Liangmai is a recognized tribe under the Constitution of Indian Republic. It is a known fact that a group of people cannot have two separate recognized nomenclatures. The collective decision of Liangmai had been intimated to the President of Zeliangrong Baudi through a written communication dated the 22ndOctober, 2015,” the LNC (M) claimed. While such is the stand of Liangmai people, a joint consultative meeting of the so called two social apex bodies of Zeme, Liangmai and Rongmei i.e., Zeliangrong Union (AMN) and Zeliangrong Baudi (AMN) held on May 25, 2017 at Namdunlong, Imphal “willfully discarded the existence of Liangmai,” the LNC (M) further claimed. According to the LNC (M), the meeting had “purposely” left out the Liangmais from the constitution Drafting Committee of the purposed re-unified body of the people in question under Resolution No. 4. “This has hurt our sentiment and we felt ignored and alienated. Even though you are well aware of the sensitive tribal sentiments, you had conveniently excluded Liangmai from the Drafting Committee. As you had done it with fully known intention, we have no other option but to disassociate ourselves from every social organization of the erstwhile Zeliangrong bodies. Henceforth, going forward we the Liangmai people are no longer a part of any Zeliangrong social bodies,” the LNC (M) maintained. “You are therefore, requested to strike out the word “Liang” from your organization’s nomenclature immediately. Else we will be compelled to oppose the use of ‘Liang” in any of your writing or statement,” the apex Liangmai body added.
