‘Celebrate Sangai Festival, protect Sangai as well’

Imphal: Shiv Sena Manipur state unit president M. Tombi Singh urges the people of the state to protect Sangai deer, the state animal, against poachers while as the government organises Sangai Festival to promote Sangai deer.

The Shiv Sena leader was speaking to reporters at his state office, here on Thursday.

Tombi said to protect and promote Sangai deer, state government is organising Sangai Festival which is one of the biggest tourism festival of Manipur. “However, it is reported that some people are consuming the Sangai deer.”

He appealed the people to protect the unique and endangered brow-antlered deer species inhabited in the state stating that without public support, conservation and protection of Sangai cannot be done by government alone.

In the upcoming Sangai festival many tourists will be coming to visit the festival. People should cooperate with good hospitality with the tourist including foreign tourist who come to visit the festival so that more tourisst could be attracted, Tombi said.

This year’s edition of 10-day Manipur Sangai Festival was scheduled to begin on November 21.

Tombi also said the demand for Schedule Tribe status for Meeitei / Meitei is a legitimate demand in order to protect the indigenous rights of Manipur. Shiv Sena supports the movement headed by Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee Manipur, he added.

There will be no harm to go into any religion after getting the ST status, he said.