11 Manipur sportspersons petition PM, HM for peace in state; says will return awards

The athletes have threatened to quit and return their awards if their demands are not fulfilled

As many as 11 Manipur sportspersons who have won national and international awards have petitioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to bring peace to the state that has been on the boil for a month now since May 3, 2023.

These athletes have also submitted a memorandum to PM Modi and HM Amit Shah containing eight demands and have cautioned that they would quit and return their awards if their demands are not fulfilled.

The athletes — Judoka Shushila Devi Likmabam, weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu, boxer Laishram Sarita Devi, boxer Mayengbam Suranjoy Singh, retired footballer Oinam Bembem Devi, Weightlifter Ngangbam Soniya Chanu, martial art athletes Sandhyarani Devi Wangkhem and Yumnam Sanathoi Devi who have petitioned the PM and HM and submitted the charter of demands, have strongly condemned the attacks on unarmed civilians in the valley districts of the state.

The eight demands laid forth by the sportspersons are:

(1) Revoke the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement with the Kuki militant groups.
(2) Restore peace and normalcy at the earliest.
(3) Protect the unity and integrity of Manipur.
(4) The demand to disintegrate Manipur is not acceptable under any circumstances.
(5) Allow the Meiteis to settle in the hills of Manipur.
(6) To not accept the demand to disintegrate Manipur.
(7) To deport illegal immigrants to their respective countries.
(8) Unblock National Highway-2 at the earliest as the Highway has been blocked for weeks at several locations resulting in a price rise of essential commodities and severally affecting common people.

They urged PM Modi and the Union Home Minister to implement these points of the memorandum at the earliest in the interest of the public.

It may be mentioned here that Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in the trouble-torn state yesterday night and since then he met CM Biren Singh and his council of ministers. At the meeting 5 key decisions were taken. Today morning the Home Minister met the ‘Imas’ or women leaders who hold a lot of significance in the Manipuri society, Civil Society Organisations and currently he is in Churanchadpur district meeting CSOs and other stakeholders. Tomorrow he is likely to visit Kangpokpi, another district of Manipur that has seen a lot of violence. HM Shah is scheduled to be camping in Manipur till June 1.

Already over 80 lives have been lost, hundreds injured, thousands have been displaced, a huge trust deficit between communities have cropped up, people are fleeing from their homes in their own state.

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