Shimla : Several organisations jointly protest against Manipur violence

Shimla, July 25 – Several social and civil society organisations held a joint demonstration at the Deputy Commissioner’s office here demanding the intervention of President Draupadi Murmu to stop the ongoing violence in Manipur and restorative peace and communal harmony.
The protesting organizations including Janwadi Mahila Samiti, CITU, Himachal Kisan Sabha, SFI, DYFI, Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch and Young Women Christian Association also demanded action against those responsible for the violence, rape and mass murders in the North Eastern state.
Hundreds of people especially women participated in the demonstration and submitted a memorandum to the President through the Deputy Commissioner, Shimla.
The demonstration was addressed by former CPI(M) MLA Rakesh Singha, AIDWA General Secretary Falma Chauhan, CITU General Secretary Vijender Mehra, Jagat Ram, Satyawan Pundir, Ritu Sharma, Sarita Thakur and Balak Ram.
Singha said unbridled violence is continuing in Manipur for the last 86 days. Hundreds of people have lost their lives with 70,000 people rendered homeless after being affected by the violence.
“All these people are forced to live in relief camps. The State Chief Minister N Biren Singh has failed to maintain law and order and the situation is worsening day by day,” he said.
Incidents of sexual exploitation and rape of women, and girls have become common in the state, Singha alleged.
Recently, two women were stripped naked, the video of which went viral, shaming the country and civilised society.
Singha accused the BJP government of Manipur of continuously trying to hide such incidents and giving silent support to the culprits.
It is surprising that the Prime Minister of the country remained silent for three months on such incidents of violence and rape. “When the video of two women being paraded nude went viral, the Prime Minister while addressing the media showed insensitivity and tried to divert attention from the whole issue by raising the issues of Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh,” he said.
The protestors called the PM’s statement “completely irresponsible” and alleged that he made sensitive issues like rape, mass murders and incidents of violence in the country a “victim of politics”.
Singha said the rule of state Chief Minister N Biren Singh, Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah has come under “suspicion” in the Manipur violence.
He sought the President’s intervention to stop the violence in Manipur immediately. “Communal harmony should be maintained,,,peace should be restored immediately in Manipur”.
Among those who participated in the protest were CPI(M) state secretary Onkar Shad, Himachal Pradesh Kisan Sabha President Kuldeep Tanwar, former Shimla Mayor Sanjay Chauhan, and Young Women Christian Association President Vidhupriya Chakraborty,