INDIA Alliance in Manipur Plans Sit-in Protest in Delhi Tomorrow
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Imphal, Dec 8 (NationPress) The 10-party INDIA alliance in Manipur is preparing to conduct a sit-in demonstration at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Monday, advocating for the immediate restoration of peace and normalcy in the northeastern state.
The President of the Congress' Manipur unit, Keisham Meghachandra Singh, stated on Sunday that this sit-in demonstration is a response to the inaction by both the Central and the state governments.
He emphasized, “This protest is organized in light of the 19-month-long ethnic strife in Manipur, aiming to urge for urgent intervention and the restoration of peace and normalcy in the state.”
A delegation of leaders from the INDIA alliance in Manipur, led by Hareshwar Goswami, the Vice President of the Congress state unit, departed for New Delhi on Sunday to take part in the protest.
On December 6, the 10-party INDIA alliance urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Manipur at the earliest opportunity or to engage in discussions with political parties from the state in New Delhi.
The alliance, spearheaded by the Congress, submitted a letter to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on December 6, requesting him to visit Manipur to address the ongoing 19-month-long ethnic conflict.
Meghachandra Singh informed the media that the leaders of the INDIA alliance sought permission to hold a sit-in demonstration at Jantar Mantar on December 6, but their request was denied by the authorities.
He lamented, “It is very unfortunate that we can’t exercise our right to protest amid this unprecedented turmoil... Our movement will persist. We will continue to protest in various forms.”
Singh further stated that due to the ongoing ethnic violence, over one lakh people have been displaced from their homes, with several hundred casualties and many others injured. The violence has led to significant destruction of property across different communities, he added, noting that the continued unrest has intensified the suffering, trauma, and fear among the people of Manipur.
“We urged the Prime Minister that if he is unable to visit Manipur, he could invite political leaders from the state to discuss the critical situation here,” the state Congress chief said.
In addition, approximately 20 civil society organizations and student groups from the Imphal Valley have announced plans to hold a rally in Delhi on December 22.
