The Huyel Langlon Thang-Ta Association (HLTA) on Wednesday objected to the conferring of Padma Shri Award to K Sanathoiba Sharma in sports category, alleging that he has no relation with Thanga-Ta sports.
Speaking to the media at the Manipur Press Club in Imphal, HLTA senior coach and former GS of Thang-ta Federation of India, H Dinachandra, pointed out that the Thanga-Ta undertaken by the guru (Sanathoiba) is performing arts related with culture and not sports.
Thanga-Ta is being divided into sports and culture and the route of both the disciplines is different from one another, he explained.
Sanathoiba has never taken up any single initiative in the upliftment of Thanga-Ta sports to the level of state, national and international, he said, adding that the guru was merely pursuing Thang-Ta as a performing art.
Questioning the state government procedure on recommending Sanathoiba for the prestigious award in sports category, the senior coach also sought a clarification call from the guru himself.
Stating that holding of such Padma Shri title using the credit of sports category will be a laughing stock and unjust to the prestigious title, he drew the attention of the Central and state governments to remove the category of sports from the Padma Shri tag.
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