COCOMI questions Amit Shah's statement on Meitei women
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 19 2023: The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has questioned Union Home Minister Amit Shah's purported statement "Rein in Meitei women, don't let them hinder movement of troops, I will end the crisis in 10 days" .

Saying that the statement purportedly made by the Union Home Minister during a meeting with a team of MLAs from Manipur on September 15 deeply hurt the people of the State, COCOMI remarked that the particular statement reflected how New Delhi sees Manipur and Meitei community in the most frivolous manner.

Amit Shah's statement was an attempt to blame the victim Meitei community for the Government of India's failure and weakness, COCOMI asserted in a statement.

COCOMI condemns such irresponsible statements of the Union Home Minister in the strongest terms, it said.

Meitei people have lost their trust in Central security forces, specially Assam Rifles because they have been taking the side of chin-Kuki narco-terrorists.

There are ample evidence of Central security forces' partisan attitude and activities, it claimed.

Thousands of Meitei houses were burnt down and many people were shot dead at Moreh, Serou-Sugnu, Churachandpur and from Torbung Bangla to Phougakchao Ikhai right in front of the troops of Assam Rifles.

The Meitei houses burnt down by Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists at Prem Nagar, Moreh were just 20 feet away from Assam Rifles post, it said.

It then asked how Meitei people could trust those armed forces who watched silently when all kinds of unlawful activities including burning down of houses and killing people were committed most blatantly.

When the State fails to protect its citizens and their properties, it is the legitimate right of the people to defend themselves and this should not be construed as acting against the Indian State, COCOMI said.

Meira Paibis are not obstructing security forces from discharging their duties but they are only reacting to the security forces' unbecoming and partisan conduct, it said.

The COCOMI asserted that Meitei women are the foundation of Manipur civilization and they are the guardians of Manipuri society.

Meitei women's contribution in driving out Burmese invaders during the Seven Years Devastation (1819-26) and their wars against the British rulers (Nupi Lans of 1904 and 1939) are well documented and widely acknowledged, it said.

In the face of the enemies' sustained aggression aimed at annihilating the indigenous people, Meitei women have been struggling day and night to save Manipur and no force can suppress their movement, COCOMI asserted.

Asking for cessation of the Meitei women's movement is akin to asking for removal for the wall of defence so that all the Meitei people can be terminated at ease, it remarked.

COCOMI then reiterated the people's demands to drive out every single Chin-Kuki narco-terrorist from the soil of Manipur, stop SoO militants from attacking Meitei people, withdraw Assam Rifles from Manipur, identify illegal immigrants by implementing NRC and resettle all displaced people at their original places by bringing an end to the violence at the earliest.

COCOMI added that they support every movement of Meitei women.

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