Assam government's reported portrayal of Manipur's Rani Gaidinliu as a freedom fighter from Nagaland, though could have been inadvertent, has sparked controversy in the state.
In photos shared by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Rani Gaidinliu was seen portrayed as a tribal freedom fighter from Nagaland.
The plate inscribing Rani Gaidinliu's name under her statue installed at Amrit Udyan Park in Guwahati described her as a freedom fighter from Nagaland.
The park was recently inaugurated by the CM himself.
The Kabui Mothers' Association and the Zeliangrong Union have expressed disappointment over the wrong portrayal and demanded the Assam government to immediately rectify its mistake.
Speaking to media on Friday at Kakhulong during a joint press conference by the two bodies, general secretary of Kabui Mothers' Association, Ranjita Golmei pointed out that Gaidinliu was born on January 26, 1915 at Nungkao (or Longkao) village in the present-day Tousem sub-division of Manipur's Tamenglong district.
She drew the attention of Chief Minister N Biren and the state government to intervene into the matter since it is in the interest of the whole state and not only the Kabui or Zeliangrong community to which Rani Gaidinliu belong.
Lamenting over the fact that even the Northeast state of Assam failed to recognise Gaidinliu's place of origin, Ranjita appealed to the Assam government to rectify its mistake at the earliest and to ensure that such incident is not repeated in the future.
While Rani Gaidinliu is being identified by many as a Naga freedom fighter, it does not mean that she is from Nagaland, the bodies said.
