Manipur Violence: NESO stages protest in all Northeast capitals

 Students hit the street demanding restoration of peace in Manipur

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: North East Students’ Organization (NESO) organized its scheduled protest in all state capitals of the Northeast against the Centre’s inability to restore peace in trouble-torn Manipur, even after 6 months since the trouble erupted in May this year.

NESO, the umbrella organization of different students’ organizations of the NE, including the AASU in Assam, organized the chain of protests to demand a permanent solution to the vexed problem.

The main grouse of the protesting students is the failure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to travel to Manipur to assuage the feelings of the people hit by the violence, even as he has been seen travelling around the country, as well as outside it, for a variety of purposes.

NESO chairman Samuel Jyrwa and secretary general Mutsikhoyo Yhobu took the occasion to flay the Centre for turning a ‘blind eye’ to the violence and arson in Manipur, which has claimed countless lives and led to the exodus of thousands to neighbouring states. They said, “Both communities- Meiteis and Kukis- are still in relief camps. This is very sad. Thousands of students are facing uncertain future. NESO wants peace in Manipur. The central government has failed to resolve the issue, even six months on. Effective steps must be taken.”

AASU and NESO chief adviser Samujjal Bhattacharya said, “Today’s protest shows that the Northeast is united. Manipur is not alone. All seven states of NE are with Manipur. PM and Home Minister cannot ignore Manipur. They forget that after crossing Kolkata, there is an area called the Northeast. They should remember it.”

In Guwahati, AASU participated in the NESO- called protest. The influential students’ union organized a protest march from its headquarters, Swahid Nyas Bhawan, in which general secretary Sankor Jyoti Baruah, chief advisor Samujjal Bhattacharya and others participated. However, the protest was stopped by the police at Latasil. The marchers staged a protest at that point only, shouting slogans against the government.

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