World Meetei Council Urges PM Narendra Modi to End Manipur Highway Blockade

Singjamei: Amid growing frustrations in Manipur, the World Meetei Council has reached out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, rejecting all notions of separatism and pleading for an end to the suffocating blockade that has cut off lifelines to the Meetei people.

In a memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister, the Council expressed deep sorrow over the recent tragic massacre in Pahalgam, Kashmir, while drawing urgent attention to the ongoing blockade on the National Highways that connect Manipur to the rest of India. Despite the state’s direct administration by the Centre, these crucial routes remain inaccessible to the Meetei community, causing immense hardship.

The World Meetei Council emphasised that contrary to certain misconceptions — allegedly fueled by reports from some security agencies — the Meetei people have never questioned their Indian identity nor harboured separatist sentiments. Instead, they underscored their historical and cultural integration with the Indian ethos, highlighting their religious practices, traditional attire, vegetarian rituals, and admiration for Indian art and cinema as living proof of their unwavering connection to the country.

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“Indeed, we may be separated by language, looks, and traditions, but not by spirit or loyalty,” the memorandum stated, underscoring the emotional bond between the Meetei community and the Indian nation.

The Council also expressed disappointment that Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s promises to open and secure the highways have yet to materialise. They warned that continued neglect and suffering could deepen the Meetei people’s feelings of abandonment.

Appealing directly to Prime Minister Modi’s office for decisive intervention, the Council urged swift action to open the highways and restore faith among the people of Manipur. “Such a step would not only alleviate the suffering of the Meetei people but also reaffirm their trust in the nation and its leadership,” the memorandum concluded.