Meitei diasporas back fellow Meiteis in Manipur
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 13 2023:
Around five lakh Meitei diasporas spread across the country and beyond still stand firmly to safeguard Meiteis and Manipur, said Unity of Meitei Society (UMS), Hojai, Assam.
Addressing the media at Manipur Press Club today, the Society president Laisom Gulap said that they came to Imphal after raising money from Meitei families living in Hojai to extend some sort of help to the Meitei victims of the Manipur violence who are living at relief camps and village volunteers who guard their villages.
Saying that the 14 member delegates of the Society have already met some Meiteis at relief camps as well as village volunteers and heard their grievances, Gulap continued that they have also donated blood at RIMS to help those defending Manipur's unity in case they get injured.
Gulap said that they were accorded a warm welcome by the Meiteis at relief and those guarding villages despite all the pain and suffering they have been going through.
"We have seen the commitment of the village volunteers to safeguard the land and resources of Manipur at all cost," Gulap added.
Claiming that influx of illegal immigrants is the root cause of the violence in Manipur , he expressed desire for the Government to implement NRC in Manipur and expedite the border fencing work.
He also expressed desire for the Tangkhuls to play the central role in ending the violence.
He further urged the Government to build a memorial in honour of all the people who were killed while safeguarding the unity and integrity of Manipur.
Saying that civil society organisations must work collectively as the issue in Manipur is very serious, Gulap said that priority must be given on restoring peace.
The Society also submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister to restore normalcy, implement NRC and to expedite the rehabilitation and resettlement works of the displaced people among others.
The violence in Manipur first broke out on May 3 and since then over 140 people have been killed while thousands of families have been made to flee and take shelter elsewhere.