Ukhrul, September 12: The Naga Women’s Union has expressed concern over what it described as “selective facilitation and arrangements” being made for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Manipur on September 13.
In a statement issued, the Union said it has submitted a request to the concerned state officials for an appointment to meet the Prime Minister during his visit. The organisation said even a few minutes of dialogue would be significant at this crucial juncture.
The Union noted that Manipur has been facing turmoil since the outbreak of the Meitei–Kuki conflict on May 3, 2023. It said the Naga, Nepali, Pangal and other communities have shown perseverance in balancing the situation despite provocations, while the Nagas in particular have borne the indirect brunt of the conflict “in a very civilized manner.”
Also read Lt Gen Pendharkar Reviews Security Ahead of PM’s Manipur Visit
According to the statement, women have been “keen observers of all the situations happening in Manipur” and it would be fair and just for all stakeholders to be given equal opportunity to express their aspirations and ideas without bias or prejudice.
The Union said the Prime Minister’s visit should have provided a platform for all communities to be heard. However, it maintained that limiting interactions to only certain groups sends a message of exclusion and partiality, undermining the sentiments of other tribes and communities.
“This imbalance pattern not only undermines the principles of equality but deepens the feeling of deprivation among the left-out communities,” the statement added.
Also read BJP Manipur Vice President Denounces Resignation Claims in Phungyar Unit
The Union demanded that equal space be accorded to them as a stakeholder to directly engage with the Prime Minister, stating that “only through inclusive representation can lasting harmony in the state be achieved.”