Mass protest against SA demand on June 24
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 22 2024: A massive protest against the demnd for separate adminis- tration will be staged on the first day of the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha, said womenfolk of Khwairam-band Keithel.

The massive protest will be staged at Khwairamband Keithel on June 24, the day the first session of the Lok Sabha will begin in Delhi, said Huirem Binodini, co-convener of Khwairamband Ima Keithel Coordinating Committee for Peace at Manipur Press Club, Imphal.

Addressing reporters at the press meet, Binodini said the committee welcomes the new NDA Government in the Centre led by Prime Minister Narendera Modi and hopes it will resolve the Manipur crisis at the earliest.

She said it is the duty of the Centre and the State Government to resolve the crisis and bring normalcy in the State for peace, coexistence and development.

For the Centre and the State to bring about peace, Binodini stressed that the Lok Sabha session must, without fail, discuss the Manipur crisis as an important agenda.

She said the people of the State expect that the demand for separate administration, being raised by Kuki MLAs, will be rejected in totality and Manipur's integrity would be honoured and protected.

Binodini further asserted that the Khwairamband Ima Keithel Coordinating Committee for Peace takes the security forces' crackdown on village volunteers amid the prevailing tension in the State very seriously.

She said the Indian Government and the State Government should understand, very clearly, who is waging war against the State and the people, and who are defending them.

While Kuki narco-terrorists are waging war against the people with the intention to break Manipur, the youths are volunteering themselves to protect the people and Manipur's integrity.

There shouldn't be any ambiguity in identifying who are the enemies of the State, and the security forces must act knowing this, she said.

In case, the security forces, instead of acting against the aggressors, crack down on village volunteers, then the people and all the mothers in Manipur will not remain silent, she added.

Binodini further talked about the violence that has happened in Jiribam and said the womenfolk vehemently condemn the killing of a Meitei farmer and the burning of houses, police outposts and forest offices by militants.

She said the womenfolk of Khwairamband Keithel will visit Jiribam and assist the victims who have been displaced by the violence.

The violent Manipur crisis has killed over 220 persons and displaced more than 60,000 people.

The violence started after ATSUM's Solidarity March on May 3, 2023 turned violent at Tobung, bordering Churachandpur and Bishnupur district.

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