A mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter from Manipur Chungreng Koren appealed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the violence-hit state saying people are dying everyday.
Chungreng Koren’s emotional appeal to PM to restore peace in his home state.
Speaking after a match at the Matrix fight night with a championship belt on one arm, Chungreng Koren said, “This is my humble request to PM Modi ji. There is violence in Manipur and it has been almost a year. People are dying every day. So many are also in relief camps without proper food or water. Children are unable to study. We are worried about the future. Modi ji, please visit Manipur once and restore peace in the state.”
Koren broke down towards the end of his appeal and the video of his message to PM Modi has gone viral on social media.
During a telephonic conversation, Chungreng Koren said he wanted to make more appeals for Manipur but he got emotional while making the speech.
The MMA fighter from Manipur was crowned the new Interim MFN Bantamweight champion at MFN 14.
At least 219 people have been killed in the ethnic violence in the state since May last year. The violence erupted on May 3 after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
It’s been 2 days and his appeal is viral on social media however not able to draw any attention from Government official.
Seems like this matter has been ignored by the media and the officials.
On 3 May 2023, ethnic violence erupted in India’s north-eastern state of Manipur between the Meitei people, a majority that lives in the Imphal Valley, and the Kuki-Zo tribal community from the surrounding hills.
The proximate cause of the violence was a row over an affirmative action measure. On 14 April 2023, acting on a writ petition, the Manipur High Court ordered the state government to send a recommendation to the central government on the demand for a Scheduled Tribe status by the valley-based Meitei community,[47] a decision later criticised by the Supreme Court.[48] To protest the Meitei demands for the scheduled tribe status, the All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur conducted peaceful protest marches on 3 May. After one of these marches, clashes broke out between Kuki and Meitei groups near the border between the Churachandpur district and Bishnupur district, followed by house burning.
This is heart breaking to see a men winning an international title cried for help, went viral still did not catch eyes of the required officials.
It remains to be seen whether channeling this issue will have any impact on the upcoming elections or not. However, what is necessary now is to at least try to hear out the people of Manipur to maintain the peace.