Christians oppose 5-star hotel plan in Imphal

Christians have protested the Manipur government's decision to displace a Naga village to make way for a five-star hotel.

The All India Christian Council (aicc) last week appealed to Congress president Sonia Gandhi to oppose the proposed expansion of the Imphal Hotel and subsequent land acquisition which might displace hundreds of families and destroy three churches.

"We welcome the Manipur government's desire to have a five-star hotel at Imphal and it is most needed in the state, especially with view of ongoing 'Look East' projects. However, the present 4.5 acres of land occupied by the Imphal Hotel is more than enough for the proposed hotel," John Dayal, secretary general of the All India Christian Council, said in a statement.

"According to notification by the under secretary of the tourism department, it is very clear that the intension of the government is to acquire Naga river village to make way for the hotel and lease out to some wealthy individual," he alleged.

The village in question has a population of 500 from all sections of the society, majority of them Christians.

"The state government has given step motherly treatment to Christian minorities in Manipur. Meitei and Rongmei Christians have been facing all forms of harassment from fellow citizens and the state has failed to provide safeguard to the communities," said Dayal, who is also a member of the National Integration Council.

Over 600 people belonging to different communities - Naga, Kuki, Meitei and Nepali - are living in the Naga river colony.

The All Manipur Christian Organisation, the apex body of churches in Manipur, earlier criticised the government's move and said it will not accept construction of a luxury hotel by removing churches and temples at the expense of poor lives.

Many Christian MLAs are taking initiatives to convert churches into luxurious hotels. Such action of the government is discriminatory and a direct attack on modern secularism, said the organisation's president, Rev. S Prim Vaiphei.