Women Traders Of Manipur Want Review Of State's Merger With India, Question PM's Silence
Several women traders have demanded that the state of Manipur return to its pre-merger status.
This protest was held to criticise the Prime Minister's silence on the ongoing ethnic violence in the border state, which has surpassed 75 days.?
Demand to end Manipur's merger with India?
It was through the Merger Agreement signed between the then princely state of Manipur and the Indian Union in 1949 that Manipur was incorporated into India.?
The female traders, under the aegis of the Manipur Women Convention, organised the protest at the historic Ima market in Imphal to demand a review of the Merger agreement.?
"Enforce the law of the land at Tengnoupal, Churachandpur, and Kangpokpi," "Deploy state forces at Moreh," "Stop using Indian security forces against the Meiteis," and "Go back Assam Rifles" were some of the demands put forward by the women in the protest.?
Dissatisfaction against government?
On Monday, hundreds of women took to the streets of Imphal to protest against state's handling of the ongoing ethnic violence.?
The women, who were members of the Thawai Mirel and Meira Paibis organisations, had blocked the NH-2 at Chingamakhong and demanded to meet with Chief Minister N Biren Singh.?
Meitei women held fire torches and formed human chains on the streets in Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal and Kakching districts.?
They questioned the government's handling of the situation, asking how many more lives had to be lost before the state could achieve peace.?
In another protest on Saturday, women vendors had staged a protest at Khwairamband Ima Market, raising the same issue.
One of the protesters, Huirem Binodini Devi, said, "The stoic silence by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah provoked us to feel that we are not a citizens of India. The central leaders should listen to our voice if we are citizens of India. Now, our sense of nationality is in a state of confusion", as quoted by Imphal Free Press.?
Manipur violence?
Violence in Manipur began in the first week of May 2023 after a rally by the indigenous communities against moves to grant tribal status to the main ethnic group (Meiti) in the State.?
It soon spiralled into a serious ethnic clash - leaving at least 140 dead, more than 300 injured, and thousands displaced till now.?
With the central government choosing to remain quiet on the issue, there seems to be no solution as yet.
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