Meitei protest in Imphal for free movement

Imphal: Protests erupted in Imphal, pressing the govt to ensure free movement for the Meiteis along the national highways and to provide special concessions on flight fares for them until they can travel freely along the highways.Women vendors of the Ima Keithel assembled in front of the market on Thursday, decrying the govt’s failure to ensure free movement for the Meiteis along the national highways for more than two years since communal violence erupted in May 2023.The Centre’s announcement of the Kuki-Zo Council’s decision to open the National Highway-02 for free movement of commuters and essential goods on Sept 4 was perceived as a breakthrough.

However, the same has been disputed by the Kuki-Zo Council. After the announcement, the council had said on multiple occasions that no free movement has been permitted along the NH-02 and no one from either Meitei or Kuki-Zo communities should cross the “buffer zone”.Speaking to reporters in connection with the protest, Thingujam Rani, secretary of Khwairamband Nupi Keithel Sinpham Amadi Shaktam Kanba Lup, argued that the govt’s failure to ensure free movement along the highways has badly affected every aspects of life for the Meiteis.

“For more than two years, Meiteis are forced to travel by flight alone to other states whether for education, health or sports, thereby incurring additional expenditures and compounding their hardships,” she said.She further said not allowing only the Meiteis to travel along the highways is a grave injustice and the govt both at the Centre and state must take necessary steps immediately so that the Meiteis can avail their rights of being Indian citizens.Earlier in the day, members of the Kangleipak Kanba Lup staged a protest in front of the High Court of Manipur in Imphal pressing for the same demands.