IMPHAL: The International Meitei Christian Youth Assembly (IMCYA) has issued a ardent plea for the removal of a cross erected atop Thangjing Hill, a revered site for the Meitei community in Moirang town.
In a statement issued recently, the IMCYA expressed profound dismay over the placement of the cross on January 25, 2024, highlighting the sanctity of Thangjing Hill to the Meitei people.
The Assembly underscored that such an action could unfairly implicate Christians worldwide, tarnishing their image.
“This regrettable act of erecting a cross on Thangjing Hill, a site of utmost significance for the Meitei community, is deeply troubling. This misguided action not only desecrates our sacred space but also risks unjustly implicating Christians worldwide, who represent a substantial segment of the global populace. The cross symbolises God’s love, the Creator of all,” the statement read.
Moreover, the IMCYA vehemently disassociated the cross on Thangjing Hill from the Christian faith, asserting it as a symbol of encroachment and wrongdoing.
“The cross recently placed on Thangjing Hill bears no resemblance to the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Rather, it mirrors the actions of malevolent individuals – akin to those who perpetrate theft, murder, and other nefarious deeds. This cross signifies encroachment, illicit activities such as poppy cultivation, calls for separate governance, and the unjust loss of innocent lives,” emphasised the IMCYA.
Calling for the swift removal of the cross from the sacred site, the IMCYA stressed the unfair burden it imposes on the Meitei Christian and other Christian communities.
The IMCYA urged authorities to respond promptly to their appeal, warning of further action if their concerns remain unaddressed.
The cross, erected atop Thangjing Hill, holds immense cultural and religious significance for the Meitei community, serving as a revered pilgrimage site believed to be the abode of the deity Ibudhou Thangjing.
