Newmai News Network
Imphal: Seven tonsured women on Friday carried out a bicycle rally with a message of peace and harmony in Manipur to mark the first anniversary of the ongoing Kuki-Meitei violence.
The bicycle rally kicked off from Sekmai of Imphal West district and culminated in Imphal’s Kangla fort after covering NH-2.
Before kicking off the rally, the women shaved their heads in front of a gathering at a public ground in Sekmai KoujengLeikai.
Clad in black attire which according to the women symbolised mourning and sorrow, they carried placards bearing messages of peace and unity.
Besides, some placards read “We Want Peace,” “Protect Territorial Integrity of Manipur,” and “Protect Indigenous People of Manipur”.
Upon reaching the Kangla fort in Imphal, they offered a prayer at the shrine of Iputhou Pakhangba, the supreme god of the Meitei indigenous religion.
Talking to reporters there, one of the women taking part in the rally slammed the governments at the Centre as well as inthe state for not taking any concrete steps to end the crisis even after a year of violence and clashes.
She said that the people of all sections of society in the state are suffering to their limits due to the protracted crisis and they are threatened to imply the degree of suffering.
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She explained that hair is traditionally viewed as a symbol of beauty for women and they willingly sacrificed this symbol to underscore the depth of people’s distress due to ongoing turmoil.
She protested against the alleged inaction on the part of the government to end the crisis despite the hue and cry of the people.
“Women are the most affected group of society and the government failed to heed the voices of women to address their plights”, she lamented.
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