Peace rally a success, says FOCS
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 08 2025: Federation of Civil Society Organisations (FOCS), Manipur chairman Thoidingjam Manihar has declared their peace rally a resounding success despite not reaching its intended destination.

Addressing the media in this regard at Chingmeirong Kabo Leikai today, Manihar continued that the inability of the peace rally to reach its intended destination was actually a defeat for Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla as they had assured free movement across the State.

He also said that they no longer trust the assurance given by the Centre on reopening highways.

Saying that their peace rally aimed to spread a message of peace, he added that the Government, unfortunately, prevented them from rallying from Kangla as planned in the last minute.

Further stating that FOCS's decision to hold the rally aligned with the Government's assurance, Manihar maintained that they had only planned to spread a message of peace by rallying up to Senapati and returning to Imphal safely.

The rally which aimed to advocate peaceful coexistence failed to reach its destination due to the restriction placed by the Government, he decried.

The Government's decision to restrict the peace rally was a big blunder, Manihar continued and added that FOCS was determined to rally up to Senapati.

Maintaining that the Ministry of Home Affairs sent an informal invitation to different organisations in Manipur including FOCS to hold a review meeting pertaining to the situation in the State on March 11, he added that FOCS, however, won't attend the meeting.

He accused the Government of taking random decisions instead of working out a lasting solution to resolve the crisis.

Continuing that the FOCS will always support sincere initiatives of the Government to resolve the crisis, Manihar added that they, however, won't attend a random meeting convened by the Government.

He, meanwhile, said that Meetei village volunteers have surrendered most of the arms which were in their possession to the authorities but Kuki volunteers are still in possession of a huge number of illegal weapons.

Urging the security forces to prevent attack on Meeteis, he added that Meetei village volunteers will fight the aggressors even if unarmed if the security forces fail to protect lives and properties.

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