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Protesting against the Government of India’s alleged lack of ability to end the six-month violent dispute between Meiteis and Kukis in Manipur, the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF), under NESO, staged a sit-in. The demonstration called for “Permanent Peace in Manipur,” and highlighted how urgently effective intervention was needed. The collective voice of the NSF expressed discontent and a common request for a solution within the larger context of NESO’s programs.
What is the protest by NESO?
In order to express their dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, the North East Students’ Organisation (Neso), the leading student organisation representing the interests of the northeastern states, planned a protest. The demonstration focused on their alleged mishandling of the Manipur crisis, with protesters becoming more furious as six months passed without what they considered to be a just settlement.
Samujjal Bhattacharya, the chief adviser of the North East Students’ Organization (NESO), sharply criticised the central government, questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s absence from Manipur during the last six months throughout the ongoing conflict. To reassure the citizens of Manipur that they are not alone in dealing with the current crisis, Bhattacharya emphasised the solidarity and unity of all northeastern states.
The student body planned sit-ins at the state capitals of every northeastern state, including Imphal, in an attempt to push for long-term peace in Manipur. The government ought to refrain from making the Manipur crisis a political issue, is their primary appeal. They also emphasised the significance of preventing the creation of a buffer zone in Manipur that would divide the Meiteis and Kukis and in favour of allowing all citizens to travel freely.
The NESO’s criticism goes beyond straightforward discontent and reflects a more general appeal for an all-encompassing and inclusive strategy to address the intricate problems in Manipur. The student organisation is calling on the government to put unity first, avoid using divisive tactics, and actively work towards a peaceful and sustainable resolution in the region as the sit-ins progress.
Assistant General Secretary of NESO Wangjam Sanatomba has emphasised that in order to handle armed volunteers from various groups in Manipur, state police and central forces must work together. He also emphasises the importance of returning weapons seized from security forces, seeing this as a crucial first step in bringing peace back to the area.
Sanatomba articulates terminating the flow of weapons coming from Myanmar as part of a more comprehensive peace plan. He claims that preventing this outside supply of weapons is essential to promoting peace in Manipur.
Protesters gathered in front of Raj Bhavan in Kohima on Thursday, chanting and holding placards with messages like “Stop playing politics over human lives,” “GoI, your inaction reveals your attitude towards the North-East,” and “We demand permanent peace in Manipur.” Participants in this assembly expressed their dissatisfaction with the Indian government’s perceived imperfections especially with regard to handling the protracted conflict in Manipur.
The wide variety of placards highlighted the complex complaints, which included issues with government responsiveness, the pursuit of enduring peace, and an appeal to put human lives ahead of political considerations.
The protest expressed a shared demand for significant action and a break from the North-East region’s perceived political ignorance.
Mteisuding, the Vice President of the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF), explained the intent of the crowd, stressing that it was a protest of their dissatisfaction over what they considered to be the “inadequacy” of the Government of India (GoI) in putting an end to the ongoing cycle of violence. Mteisuding complained about the government’s purported inability to carry out crucial actions that promote peace in the conflict-ridden area.
With great conviction, he said, “We firmly believe that it is our moral responsibility to raise our voices against this prolonged conflict and to strongly stand for a peaceful resolution to the months of constant bloodshed and aggression.” Mteisuding’s remarks are motivated by a sense of moral duty, as the NSF works to highlight the seriousness of the situation and to actively advocate for the necessity of a peaceful, amicable solution to the protracted conflict.
Kerala Catholics via “Marakkilla Manipur”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have come under fire from the Catholic archdiocese of Thrissur for what it considers to be their perceived mishandling of the ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur. Through an article titled “Marakkilla Manipur,” which appeared in its magazine “CatholicaSabha,” the archdiocese voiced its dissatisfaction.
The archdiocese raised concerns about the government’s handling of the ongoing conflict when it accused the Prime Minister of failing the state during this turbulent time.
“Marakkilla Manipur” (“Don’t Forget Manipur”) is a phrase that seems to be an appeal for the BJP leadership to take notice of and take action.
The Catholic archdiocese of Thrissur highlights the seriousness of the situation in Manipur and adds to the larger conversation on ethnic conflict resolution by addressing this problem in their magazine and highlighting the need for a more proactive and efficient government response.
