Voices of dissent against Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga’s comment on the Manipur crisis grew louder in Manipur as several groups, including Manipur sportspersons, strongly condemned Zoramthanga’s alleged intervention in the internal affairs of Manipur and burned his effigy on Friday.
Several women of Khurai Lamlong and Kongpal area staged protests and burned effigies of Zoramthanga on Friday.
The women protestors shouted slogans demanding the Mizoram government to stop meddling in Manipur’s internal affairs and inflaming the crisis in the name of ‘Zo unification’.
In the protest at Khurai Lamlong Bazar, protestors thrashed the Zoramthanga effigy with sandals, decrying his "one-sided notion" on the Manipur crisis and trying to assert his state's vested political interest in Manipur.
Speaking to mediapersons on the sidelines of the protest, Khurai Apunba Meira Lup member Yumkhaibam Utara said the protest was staged against Mizoram’s interference in Manipur's internal affairs.
“The solidarity march in Mizoram was a biased political ploy to paint the entire crux of the crisis in a different narrative; instead of being a good neighbour and helping to resolve the crisis, the unprovoked derogatory statements aimed at the people of Manipur shows Mizoram’s vested interest to break Manipur,” she said.
She advised the Mizoram chief minister to divert his attention to his state and preach the message of peace in Manipur and be a good neighbour instead of spewing unfounded comments on the crisis.
“The people of Manipur are yearning for peace but such a biased take on the issue could lead to unnecessary provocation and prolong the suffering,” she said.
Must Read: Mind your business
Therefore, she called upon the people of Mizoram and their chief minister to kindly stop riding on the Manipur issue and instead strive for the development of Mizoram.
Meanwhile, several women in Kongpal Kongkham Leikai Pong Lambi also staged a protest, demanding the authorities concerned to swiftly restore peace and normalcy in Manipur and implement NRC in Manipur.
They also warned chief minister Zoramthanga to stop whimsical interferences in Manipur’s internal problems.
Zoramthanga should mind his own business: Manipur sportspersons
Sportspersons of Manipur, while condemning Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga’s alleged intervention in the internal affairs of Manipur, on Friday burned his effigy during a protest demonstration at Khuman Lampak.
Irate sportspersons staged a protest demonstration at Khuman Lampak chanting various slogans like ‘Zoramthanga mind your own business', ‘stop harassing Meitei in Mizoram’, ‘Don’t interfere in our internal matters’ etc. during the protest,
Protesters condemned Zoramthanga for his alleged provocative statement on Manipur and Manipur Chief Minister regarding the current crisis in the state. They decried Zoramthanga’s alleged silence on the provocative placards raised against Manipur on the day of the solidarity march held in Mizoram recently.
‘We would rather challenge Mizoram to fight in true sportsmanship style on the field with a sense of fair play’, stated some of the players taking part in the protest.
They pointed out that Manipur is known as the ‘powerhouse of sports’ and has produced enumerable numbers of sporting talents who have brought laurels for the state as well as the country. Players also highlighted the hardships facing them especially those training for championships and tournaments owing to the current crisis.
