Modi, Shah, Biren given symbolic cremation
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 08 2023:
Decrying that neither the State Govern ment nor the Central Government has taken up any tangible action to bring an end to the restive situation prevailing in the State since May 3, a large number of people today performed a symbolic cremation of many top political leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister N Biren.
Hundreds of people gathered in front of the main gate of Manipur University, around the traffic island at the initiative of Committee of Forward Clubs (CFC), Thongju and Apunba Meira Paibi Lup (AMPAL), Thongju and staged a protest demonstration today.
Complete with pung-jhal (traditional drum and cymbal used at the time of cremation as per Meitei customs), photographs of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Minister of State for External Affairs Dr RK Ranjan, Rajya Sabha Member Leishemba Sanajaoba, Governor Anusuiya Uikey and all the 60 MLAs of the State including Chief Minister N Biren were set afire during the protest demonstration.
A large banner containing photographs of all the top political leaders was burnt in the form of cremation of dead people.
The crowd also shouted many slogans like "Integrity of Manipur is non-negoti-able", "Creation of a separate administration in Manipur is unacceptable", "Government must bring the Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists under control", "Long Live Manipur" etc.
From Canchipur, the crowd then took out a rally towards the North.
with police keeping aclose vigil throughout the course of the rally.
They carried placards and banners which demanded resign nation of the '50 incompetent MLAs' of the State and unification of all major CSOs under a common banner.
At Kakwa, the rally was stopped for some time by police.
But the crowd somehow forced their way and marched up to Singjamei before turning back to the starting point.
Speaking to media persons, CFC Thongju publicity secretary Robert Khunjam said that CFC Thongju and AMPAL Thongju organised a huge public meeting on
July 1 .
As per a resolution adopted at the public meeting, all the, 50 MLAs including the Chief Minister were asked to take and, spell out a common decision on the current crisis within seven days, Robert said.
But none of the MLAs bothered to give any reply within the stipulated period, he said.
"Let's see whether the Government of India can still remain indifferent when the 50 MLAs collectively make a decision to step down", he added.