Guwahati, June 24: More than 500 Imas (mothers) who run stalls in a market staged a protest under the Khwairamband Ima Keithel Coordinating Committee for Peace to reject demand for a separate administration for Kuki-Zo community in Manipur and restoration of peace in Manipur.

Khwairamband Ima Keithel is the popular only women’s market in the heart of Imphal city and a powerful women’s body in Manipur.

The rally was organized by the Imas (mothers) sacrificing a day’s earnings to demand the restoration of peace in Manipur.

Addressing the rally, the coordinator of Khwairamband Ima Keithel Coordinating Committee for Peace, Laishram Mema said, “If Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Home Minister Amit Shah want to give land to Kuki, they should do so in Gujarat, not in Manipur. We will not allow even a piece of our land to Kuki Illegal Immigrants.”

The committee called for the punishment of the state home minister, the Director General of Police (DGP), and the Superintendent of Police (SP), central security forces rather than targeting village defence volunteers.

“Why aren’t the security forces protecting us from Kuki Militants? The defence volunteers have picked up arms to protect our land and lives because the security forces did not do their job. So we will not allow the village volunteers to be arrested,” Mema said.

“Instead, they must arrest the ministers, MLAs, Manipur Police and central security forces who have failed to do their duty,” Mema added.

The organisations accused the officials of failing to issue proper orders, fulfil their duties, and protect the citizens. Their negligence has resulted in the loss of many lives, the burning of homes, numerous injuries, and the displacement of over 50,000 people.

More than 500 women vendors from the Khwairamband Keithel, organized the rally to coincide with the first session of Lok Sabha beginning in New Delhi on Monday.

The organization aimed to pressure the Central government.

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The organisation demanded immediate restoration of peace, refusal to grant a separate administration to the Kuki-Zo community, and the cessation of actions against those protecting the people of Manipur as village defence volunteers.

“The Indian government is yet to take any concrete steps to control the violence. They have remained silent. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not commented on the current issue. Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited, made empty promises to appease the situation, and then left, promising to return but did not. Despite all this, not a single MLA in the State Government has dared to resign from their position or their party, the BJP,” she added.

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