AMCO, MMWO rebuke Ramananda for ‘hate speech’

TMB Report

Imphal: All Manipur Christian Organisation (AMCO) informed that the organisation in its Core Committee meeting held on April 6 at ELC Lamphel has resolved to place Reverend Takhellambam Ramananda under discipline for his guilt. 

A press release issued jointly by AMCO president Rev. L. Simon Raomai and General Secretary Rev. Fr. Albert Leivon prayed for peace, prosperity and mutual love among the different communities in the state in the name of Lord Jesus Christ. 

It said that AMCO is purely a religious organisation which not only defends the Christian faith and sanctity but raises its voice against any form of atrocities and persecution upon the Christian fraternity in order to maintain peace, justice and co-existence in the state. Rev. T. Ramananda is not a pastor but a preacher. He is found guilty of defiling the sanctity of the pulpit by his act of spitting during an outreach programme organized by SBC at Sagang Bazar on March 26, 2023.

The AMCO Core Committee held a meeting on April 6 at ELC, Lamphel. After thorough deliberation, it resolved to place Rev.T. Ramananda under discipline for his guilt. AMCO would also counsel him so that no such undesirable incident takes place in future, it conveyed. 

The release appealed to all Christian Ministers/Ministries to preach the “word of God” only and not to utter even a single word nor commit any act which may hurt the sentiments of other faiths. Befitting action will be taken against those Ministers/Ministries who ignore AMCO’s appeal.

The release also said that the present issue is a religious and not a political issue. AMCO referred to emotional integrity, not political integrity in its press briefing at Manipur Press Club on April 3, 2023. Since its inception, AMCO’s vision and objectives are totally apolitical. The organisation is tirelessly working for the peace and integrity of Manipur. 

The AMCO wholeheartedly thanked Chief Minister N.Biren Singh for his sagacious leadership and prompt action towards this issue. The AMCO is purely a religious organisation inclusive of all different Christian Communities of Manipur. It works for the welfare of Christians in particular and to bring peace, prosperity and amicable co-existence in the state. AMCO’s focus is not on politics but God. It organizes prayer meetings for God’s intervention whenever crisis arises in the land, the release further added. 

The organisation also appealed to all Manipuri brethren to forgive one another and give their best effort towards prospering and building emotional integrity in the State.

Condemning the ‘blasphemous speech’ made by evangelist T Ramananda against the tradition and custom of Meitei Pangal community in a video which went viral in social media, Manipur Muslim Welfare Organisation (MMWO) has asked T Ramananda to approach MMWO HQ by Monday for peaceful negotiation.

Talking to media persons in a press meet held at MMWO office on Saturday, President of MMWO Korimayum Boboi stated that recently T Ramananda made headlines for making derogatory remarks against the Meitei community in a public platform, followed by another viral video in which T Ramananda was seen humiliating the custom and tradition of Meitei Pangal community. 

He strongly condemned such statements made against the community, saying it hurt the sentiments of the Meitei Pangal community.