New Delhi: A large number of women protesters had hit the streets of Imphal on April 15 to demonstrate their anger against Union home minister Amit Shah for visiting the violence-torn state only to campaign for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the April 19 elections.
While the BJP is hoping to re-win the Inner Manipur seat, it has left the Outer Manipur seat to its ally, the Naga People’s Front (NPF).
As per local news reports, protestors, “primarily locals and vendors”, initiated roadblocks at several key locations in Imphal East district to “hinder the attendance of BJP supporters at Amit Shah’s rally at the Hapta Kanjeibung ground” on April 19.
“In a particularly intense display of dissent, protesters in New Checkon Road in Imphal East resorted to burning tyres and other objects, obstructing the road and causing to disruptions to traffic flow,” said the Imphal Free Press.
Illustration: Pariplab Chakraborty
The newspaper quoted a protester as saying, “Visiting Manipur for election campaign while neglecting the state for almost a year is an insult and mockery to the people of Manipur.” They recalled Shah’s three-day visit to the state (May 29-June 2, 2023) during the thick of the ethnic violence. Though he promised to return to the state “in 15 days”, he failed to turn up.
The news report also highlighted that in a separate protest against Shah’s visit, volunteers of the civil society organisation Youth of Manipur joined hands with the women vendors of Imphal to gather at the Khwairamband Bazar area. “Holding banners displaying the faces of those who have died or gone missing during the ongoing crisis, they declared, ‘We don’t want elections at the cost of our lives,’” it said.
A youth leader told the newspaper, “Given the neglect of the people of Manipur by the BJP-led government during this year-long crisis, Mr. Amit Shah is not welcome in Manipur.”
“The protestors alleged that the visit of the union home minister only at election times showed that elections are more important (to the party) than the lives and properties of the people of the state. The blockade was suspended only after a strong team of Imphal East district police led by its SP arrived at the spot and convinced the protestors to allow free passage of vehicles,” said the local Newmai News.
