Enforce rule of law or step down: Women orgns to State Govt
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 23 2024:
With violence lingering on for over 13 months with no solution in sight, hundreds of women took out a protest rally from Lilong to Canchipur under the banner "The Voice of Kanglei Mothers ", today.
Th rally which was participated by hundreds of representatives and members of different women organisations started from Regio- nal College at Lilong Cha-jing and culminated at Mani- pur University gate at Can-chipur.
Manipur Kanba Ima Lup president Ima Nganbi and Imagi Meira convenor Th Sujata also took part in the rally.
The rallyists were planning to march upto the CM's Bungalow and submit a memorandum to Chief Minister N Biren Singh with a list of demands pertaining to the unrest in Manipur but their plan was cut short by the police.
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After a brief argument, the police allowed the wo-men to rally upto Canchipur.
The rally began at 2 pm and the rallysists were stop- ped by police at Manipur University gate as the protesters tried to march ahead towards the CM's Bungalow.
There was a brief struggle between the two sides at Canchipur.
Meanwhile, the memorandum which was signed by different leaders of women organisations demanded that the Chief Ministers should tender an apology for allegedly disres-pecting mothers who have been at the forefront to safeguard Manipur.
The memorandum also said that there is no question of division among mothers on the ground of allegiance to the Government.
Stating that law and order is a State subject and the State Government must oversee it, the memorandum urged the State Government to step down if they cannot enforce law and order.
The memorandum further stated that the Centre and the State Government should not mislead the people about the violence in Manipur while working out a solution.
It is the outcome of an aggression by Kuki narco-terrorists from another country, the memorandum said.
Urging the State Government to inform the Centre about the targeted attack on Meeteis by Kuki people and about the Assam Rifles taking the side of Kukis, the memorandum demanded that no additional Central forces should be sent to the State.
The Government should not arrest those who come out to defend the lives and properties of Meeteis on the ground of extorting money, the memorandum also said.
The memorandum cautioned of more agitation if their demands are not entertained.
Speaking to the media, Ima Nganbi said that women in Manipur have been playing a key role in defending Manipur since the past.
She also said they don't want the security forces to carry out combing operations in the central valley districts until there is normalcy in Manipur.
Appealing to the Government to deploy additional security forces at border areas, Ima Nganbi elaborated that it is the border areas which require more security measures.
If more Central forces are to be sent to Manipur they must be deployed in border areas, she added.
She also said that many Meetei farmers are unable to go to fields due to the aggression by Kuki illegal immigrants.
During the rally, the women shouted slogans to safeguard the unity of Manipur, not to carry out combing operation in the valley districts and for the Centre not to act as per their whim and fancy.