Manipur crisis not about religion: Sabitri DIPR
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, June 02 2023:
Prominent theatre artiste and Padmashri win-ner Heisnam Sabitri has ex-pressed disappointment on the portrayal of the present crisis in Manipur as between the Hindus and Christians.
Talking to the DIPR, Heisnam Sabitri termed as unacceptable the way the issue is being taken and por-trayed as religion-based.
"They have not heard the correct version of the present crisis saying that it is between Hindus and Christians.
I cannot agree to this misconception.
The Hindus and Christians are living lovingly and peacefully together even now," she main-tained with apparent reference to certain section of the society and the media misin-terpreting the restive situation in the state.
She added, "In my locality Langol where people of every community and religion live, we have been co-existing peacefully and lovingly since ages till now and have been sharing whatever we have and our experiences with one another" .
She said, "The people in Suspension of Op-eration (So0) are targeting common villagers residing in the nearby foothills.
These people (Kuki militants) who are under agreements with the government, have clearly violated the ground rules and are attacking the common people and sending out the wrong impression to the outside world as the Meiteis targeting them instead" .
"It is quite unfortunate to hear in some media platform that all the tribals in the valley areas are unable to stay because of the torture meted out by the Meiteis.
But the reality is that the Meiteis are very hos-pitable, simple and peace-loving people.
People with vested interest are creating confusion," she said.
The incident had already occurred, but as of now, we should learn to forget and move on to bring a peaceful solution to this problem, she said while also expressing her prayers for peace in state.
Heisnam Sabitri is an internationally-ac-claimed actress.
For her performances and contribution in the field of theatre as an actress, she has received various honours and awards in and outside the country.
She received Manipur State Kala Akademi for acting in 1988, National Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for acting in 1991, best ac-tress award by the panel of critics in the 3rd Cairo International Festival of experimental theatre in 1991, and has also been honoured with Nandikar Award in 2002 at Kolkata on the occasion of the year of women empower-ment by Nandikar, Kolkata in collaboration with the Department of Child and Woman Development, government of India as well as Padmashri by the government of India in the year 2007 .