Manipur: Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, who won a silver medal at Olympics, urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday to put a stop to the current dispute between two clans as soon as possible in her native state of Manipur.
Over 150 individuals have already died as a result of ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki clans in Manipur since May 3.
Athletes in the northeastern state have been impacted by the violence because they are unable to train due to the current circumstances, according to Chanu, who is currently undergoing training in the USA.
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“The conflict in Manipur is going to complete three months but peace is yet to return. Many players have not been able to train because of this conflict and there has been disturbance in the study of students. Many lives have been lost and many houses have been burnt down," Chanu said in a video uploaded on her Twitter handle.
“I want to appeal to the Prime Minister and Home Minister to bring an end to this conflict as soon as possible and save all the people of Manipur and bring back the peace which was prevalent earlier."
I request Hon'ble Prime Minister @narendramodi_in sir and Home Minister @AmitShah sir to kindly help and save our state Manipur. ???????? pic.twitter.com/zRbltnjKl8
— Saikhom Mirabai Chanu (@mirabai_chanu) July 17, 2023
Chanu, who took home a silver medal in the 49 kg weight division in the Tokyo Olympics, claimed that despite living far away from her home state, she was unable to stop thinking about it..
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“I have my house in Manipur though I am currently training in the USA to prepare for the upcoming World Championships and Asian Games. Even though I am not in Manipur, I always thought about when this conflict will end," he said.
On May 3, when a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organized in the hill areas to protest against the Meitei community's quest for Scheduled Tribe (ST) designation, the ethnic conflicts broke out in the state.
The tribal population of Manipur, which includes Nagas and Kukis, makes about 40% of the total population and is primarily concentrated in the hill areas. Meiteis make up roughly 53% of the population and reside primarily in the Imphal Valley.
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