Delhi demonstration urges Modi to speak up
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By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Dec 23: A peaceful demonstration held today at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi under the theme ‘peace and mutual co-existence’ urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speak up and resolve the protracted crisis besieging Manipur.
“Mr Prime Minister, speak up. If you don’t stop the Manipur crisis now, you are accountable for it”, read a banner of the peace demonstration.
The peace demonstration was organised by CPCM, MMTU, FESOK, UMPC, CRR, KP, YP, AAMA, AITI, SWA, Imagi Meira, AMMPACO, YCM, NUPI, AMPSA and MIYC.
The peace demonstration was supported by DMCC, MSAD, United Kakching Students Delhi, Manipur Innovative Youth Organi- sation Delhi, Meitei Heritage Society, Ningol United Progressive Initiative, Lik-lam Ngakpa, Delhi Asso- ciation of Manipur Muslim Students and No 7.
The CSOs which organised and supported the peace demonstration also submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The memorandum said that the peace demonstration was aimed at drawing attention to the Manipur issue and promoting dialogue between the warring commu- nities.
It is a collective effort to advocate for peace, harmony, and mutual respect among all sections of the Manipur society.
“We believe that your true leadership and personal engagement in this matter could play a crucial role in alleviating the suffering of our people and ending this inhuman conflict”, it said.
The silence of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi regarding the ongoing crisis in Manipur since May 3, 2023, has left the people of this war-torn State deeply anguished and disillusioned.
For over 19 months, Manipur has been engulfed in ethnic strife, leading to untold suffering, displacement, alleged proxy war, humanitarian crisis and a breakdown of social harmony.
Yet, the Prime Minister of India, who has the Constitutional and moral responsibility to address the grievances of the citizens, has chosen to remain silent. This indifference raises serious questions about his commitment to the unity and well-being of Manipur, it said.
It is also deeply ironic and disappointing that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on his numerous foreign tours, consistently speaks about world peace and calls for an end to the Russia-Ukraine war, yet he has not uttered a single word about the turmoil and violence in Manipur.
While advocating for global reconciliation, his silence on a domestic crisis of such magnitude betrays the trust and hope of the people of Manipur, it said.
It then added, “The burning question that we, the citizens of Manipur, ask today is: How can the Prime Minister of India seek peace abroad while ignoring the cries of his own people at home?”
“In light of this grave silence and inaction, civil society organisations, encompassing the multi-ethnic communities of Manipur have convened this peaceful demonstration to awaken the conscience of the Nation and urge the Hon’ble Prime Minister to break his silence on Manipur”, read the memorandum.
It is a call to remind him of his duty and responsibility to protect the lives and dignity of every Manipur people and every citizen elsewhere in the country.
“We urge the Prime Minister to demonstrate leadership, compassion, and resolve by addressing the Manipur crisis with the seriousness it deserves. Peace and unity cannot be achieved through indifference but through dialogue and decisive action. It is time for the Prime Minister of India to speak his mind and act in the best interest of the people of Manipur”, it continued.
It also sought the Prime Minister’s intervention in the resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs) who have been forced to flee their homes due to the violence.
The people of Manipur, guided by a collective sense of reason and hope, initially believed that the deployment of huge central military forces would help control the chaotic situation in the State. However, contrary to expectations, the presence of these forces appears to have escalated the conflict, leaving the civilian population vulnerable and unprotected on all fronts, the CSOs asserted through the memorandum.
Despite the worsening crisis, no peace process has been initiated, and India has failed in its Responsibility to Protect (R2P) the civilian population from violence and instability.
It is imperative for the Indian Nation to recognise and respect the historical, political, and legal identity of Manipur, which predates its takeover by India on October 15, 1949.
Manipur had already achieved the status of a people’s republic with a functioning parliament on October 18, 1948. Given this historical context, the application of Article 3 of the Indian Constitution, which allows for the alteration of State boundaries, should not be imposed on the historically evolved State of Manipur, the CSOs asserted.
IMPHAL, Dec 23: A peaceful demonstration held today at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi under the theme ‘peace and mutual co-existence’ urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speak up and resolve the protracted crisis besieging Manipur.
“Mr Prime Minister, speak up. If you don’t stop the Manipur crisis now, you are accountable for it”, read a banner of the peace demonstration.
The peace demonstration was organised by CPCM, MMTU, FESOK, UMPC, CRR, KP, YP, AAMA, AITI, SWA, Imagi Meira, AMMPACO, YCM, NUPI, AMPSA and MIYC.
The peace demonstration was supported by DMCC, MSAD, United Kakching Students Delhi, Manipur Innovative Youth Organi- sation Delhi, Meitei Heritage Society, Ningol United Progressive Initiative, Lik-lam Ngakpa, Delhi Asso- ciation of Manipur Muslim Students and No 7.
The CSOs which organised and supported the peace demonstration also submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The memorandum said that the peace demonstration was aimed at drawing attention to the Manipur issue and promoting dialogue between the warring commu- nities.
It is a collective effort to advocate for peace, harmony, and mutual respect among all sections of the Manipur society.
“We believe that your true leadership and personal engagement in this matter could play a crucial role in alleviating the suffering of our people and ending this inhuman conflict”, it said.
The silence of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi regarding the ongoing crisis in Manipur since May 3, 2023, has left the people of this war-torn State deeply anguished and disillusioned.
For over 19 months, Manipur has been engulfed in ethnic strife, leading to untold suffering, displacement, alleged proxy war, humanitarian crisis and a breakdown of social harmony.
Yet, the Prime Minister of India, who has the Constitutional and moral responsibility to address the grievances of the citizens, has chosen to remain silent. This indifference raises serious questions about his commitment to the unity and well-being of Manipur, it said.
It is also deeply ironic and disappointing that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on his numerous foreign tours, consistently speaks about world peace and calls for an end to the Russia-Ukraine war, yet he has not uttered a single word about the turmoil and violence in Manipur.
While advocating for global reconciliation, his silence on a domestic crisis of such magnitude betrays the trust and hope of the people of Manipur, it said.
It then added, “The burning question that we, the citizens of Manipur, ask today is: How can the Prime Minister of India seek peace abroad while ignoring the cries of his own people at home?”
“In light of this grave silence and inaction, civil society organisations, encompassing the multi-ethnic communities of Manipur have convened this peaceful demonstration to awaken the conscience of the Nation and urge the Hon’ble Prime Minister to break his silence on Manipur”, read the memorandum.
It is a call to remind him of his duty and responsibility to protect the lives and dignity of every Manipur people and every citizen elsewhere in the country.
“We urge the Prime Minister to demonstrate leadership, compassion, and resolve by addressing the Manipur crisis with the seriousness it deserves. Peace and unity cannot be achieved through indifference but through dialogue and decisive action. It is time for the Prime Minister of India to speak his mind and act in the best interest of the people of Manipur”, it continued.
It also sought the Prime Minister’s intervention in the resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs) who have been forced to flee their homes due to the violence.
The people of Manipur, guided by a collective sense of reason and hope, initially believed that the deployment of huge central military forces would help control the chaotic situation in the State. However, contrary to expectations, the presence of these forces appears to have escalated the conflict, leaving the civilian population vulnerable and unprotected on all fronts, the CSOs asserted through the memorandum.
Despite the worsening crisis, no peace process has been initiated, and India has failed in its Responsibility to Protect (R2P) the civilian population from violence and instability.
It is imperative for the Indian Nation to recognise and respect the historical, political, and legal identity of Manipur, which predates its takeover by India on October 15, 1949.
Manipur had already achieved the status of a people’s republic with a functioning parliament on October 18, 1948. Given this historical context, the application of Article 3 of the Indian Constitution, which allows for the alteration of State boundaries, should not be imposed on the historically evolved State of Manipur, the CSOs asserted.