Manipur: BJP govt accused of targeting Meitei indigenous religion

Imphal: The row over the Govindaji Temple construction being undertaken inside the campus of the Royal Palace (Sana Konung) in Imphal has snowballed into a bigger storm, with Pandit Loishang members vandalising under-construction buildings.

The Loishang members maintained that the forced construction of Hindu temple allegedly on Pandit Loishang’s premises is impinging on the age-old sanctity of the indigenous religion of Meitei. They accused the BJP-led government in Manipur of usurping Pandit Loishang’s land and undertaking a Hindu construction on its premises against the will and consent of Pandit Loishang.

A committee called “Pandit Loishang (Maru Loishang) Kanba Lup” has also been constituted by various CSOs, Meira Paibis, amaiba amaibi (priests and priestess) and Pandit Loishang members to safeguard and protect Pandit Loishang, which is considered to be the custodian of the indigenous religion of Meitei community.