NEW DELHI: In a heartfelt and emotional appeal, Mirabai Chanu, the silver medallist weightlifter at the Tokyo Olympics, has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to restore peace in her strife-torn home state of Manipur. The plea comes amidst ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities, which have resulted in over 150 casualties since May 3. Chanu, currently in the United States for training ahead of the World Weightlifting Championships and the Asian Games, expressed deep concern about the conflict's adverse effects on athletes' training and students' ability to focus on their studies.
“Manipur ki sabhi praja ko bacha lijiye, aur pehle jaise shanti laiye (Please save all the people of Manipur and restore peace in the state),” Mirabai Chanu said in a video she posted in the social media.
In a video posted on her social media platforms, Mirabai Chanu passionately appealed to the top leaders, saying, “It will soon be three months since violence in Manipur started. The authorities are yet to restore peace. Because of the violence, a lot of athletes are unable to train and students are not able to focus on their studies. Lots of people have lost their lives and many houses have been burnt down. Even though I am in the USA training for the upcoming World Weightlifting Championships and Hangzhou Asian Games, I have a home in Manipur. Even if I am not in the state, I think about home and wonder when normalcy will return. I appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to find a solution to the unrest as soon as possible,”
Chanu's heartfelt appeal has garnered support from fellow sports icons in Manipur, many of whom have pledged to return their medals if peace is not restored promptly. Former India football captain Oinam Bembem Devi, weightlifter Kunjarani Devi, and boxers Sarita Devi and L Ibomcha Singh have joined the chorus of voices urging for an end to the violence. Mary Kom, Olympic bronze medallist and former Rajya Sabha MP, also shared a video addressed to PM Modi, urging him to intervene and put a stop to the ongoing turmoil in Manipur.
The ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities have resulted in a devastating loss of lives and extensive property damage. The violence has had a significant impact on athletes who are unable to train due to the prevailing situation. Moreover, students in Manipur are finding it difficult to focus on their studies, further exacerbating the repercussions of the conflict.
Mirabai Chanu's emotional appeal to Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Shah serves as a powerful reminder of the toll the violence has taken on the people of Manipur and the need for immediate action. The hope is that the leaders will heed this plea and work towards finding a solution that will bring an end to the unrest, allowing Manipur to regain stability and enabling athletes to resume their training while students can concentrate on their education once again.
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