Solution should not affect Manipur, say protesters as Naga political issue rocks Imphal

Women vendors of the Khwairamband Ima Keithel during their protest in Imphal on October 24. (NNN Photo)

Newmai News Network
Imphal | October 24 

A large number of people protested in Imphal on Thursday demanding that they will fight tooth and nail if settlement of the Naga political issue affects the interest of Manipur in adverse way. 

The protest was held under the aegis of Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), the conglomerate of the United Committee, Manipur (UCM), All Manipur United Clubs Organisation (AMUCO), Committee of Civil Societies of Kangleipak (CCSK), HERICOUN and LIPUL formed recently.

Initially, the demonstration was carried out by women vendors of the Khwairamband Ima Keithel (women market). Later, a large number of people from different walks of life joined the demonstration filling the streets in the heart of the state capital.

Slogans such as “Long live Manipur”, “Bring solution and not problem”, “No ethnic based administrative arrangement in Manipur”, “We stand for Manipur’s integrity,” “Naga solution should not affect Manipur" etc. echoed the streets during the demonstration. 

The demonstration started from Khwairamband Keithel that marched along BT Road. However, the protestors were blocked by police near Johnston School gate after a brief tussle.

A large number of police personnel backed by Central security personnel armed with riot gears were found already erecting barricade blocking the BT Road ahead of the protest.

Coordinator of Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), Sunil Karam along with other leaders joined the demonstration later.

Talking to reporters, Karam alleged that it has been now cleared that some points related with Manipur are included in the talks. “But, there is still time to remove the points which will provoke the people of Manipur. So, the government of India must act knowing the pulse of the people of Manipur,” he said.

Sunil Karam cautioned that if the Centre goes ahead against the wishes of the people of Manipur, then the people will be compelled to raise their voice for self-determination.

He demanded the Centre to remove any point infringing the interest of Manipur within the next 10 days, claiming that Thursday's mass demonstration is the clear reflection of people’s mandate against any move hurting the sentiment of the people of the state.

He then asked the political parties to stop hurling allegations against each other but instead concentrate on the protection of the state’s territorial integrity.  “This is not the time for the political parties dividing themselves as ruling and opposition.

Instead, they must work together to protect the territorial integrity of the state,” he said.

Meanwhile, leaders of the women vendors claimed that Thursday’s demonstration was a spontaneous uprising of the women vendors responding to COCOMI’s call for "public alert" campaign with regard to the Naga peace talks. Responding to the call of the COCOMI, sit-in protests cum alert meetings were also organised at various parts of the valley districts for the second consecutive on Thursday.

Meanwhile, almost all the important government installations and offices including Imphal Raj Bhavan and Chief Minister’s Secretariat have been fortified by erecting temporary barricades and detailing police and security force armed with riot gears.