Pics by Kevin Rodrigues
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (TP)
Udupi, Aug 2: “Our honourable Prime Minister failed to provide justice and stayed silent. His silence made India to look like dead. Our words and protest as weapons will prove that India is still alive,” said analyst Shiv Sundar.
Addressing the protesters at the rally held by Samana Manaskara Vedike and attended by over 5,000 people, he said, “Why did the incident take place is important than when and what. Until the video went viral, Chief Minister of Manipur stayed silent. After the video went viral he said he will look into the issue. It is the duty of the government to protect lives and values. People who harassed women and caused the issue were not arrested but a case of sedition was slapped on those who went on to investigate the Manipur case.”
Talking about the two communities in Manipur, Shiv Sundar said, “Meitei community is the strongest community in Manipur, whereas Kuki community always struggled for their rights. The Meitei community people have been given weapons in their hand and a feeling of hatred has been instilled in their minds with the support by government. N Biren Singh, CM of Manipur is one of the biggest drug mafiosos. When the Manipur BJP came to power it held a press meet and informed that more than 2,000 people were arrested in drug mafia, in which the large population of Meitei community were involved."
He said, "Hindu communities in Manipur sowed seeds of hatred in Meitei community against Kuki community. N Biren Singh should resign and a temporary government should be formed to make Kuki community feel secure.”
Participating in the protest, Janeta Barboza, resource person said, “We gave India and environment the mothers place, but women in this country are not safe. When I watched the video of naked women being paraded I was in a state of shock. What slogan will the Prime Minister announce now? This incident has made the government naked. The ‘Manki Baat’ by PM made the people of India monkeys, but he never heard the ‘dil ki baat’ of the women in Manipur. The end of the ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padavo’ may be ‘Beti Jalao’. The PM is acting irresponsibly.”
The Samana Manaskara Vedike in association with other associations staged a protest demanding provide justice to the people of Manipur. The protest started from Mother of Sorrow Church, passed through Chitharanjan Circle and Diana Circle before concluding at Christian High School grounds with a thoughtful word by resource persons.
It was a massive crowd with over 5000 people taking part in the protest. Samana Manaskara Vedike proposed a memorandum to be presented to President of India.
Former MLA Vinay Kumar Sorake said, “It has been three months since this incident took place, but still no peace has returned. Naked rally of women and communal disturbance in Manipur took place in the presence of Supreme Court, high court and others. Such incidents never took place in India before. It is our constitutional right to live. Today, we are here to protest to protect our constitution and to condemn the acts that took place in Manipur.”
Prof Phaniraj welcomed the gathering. Prashant Jathanna, president of Samana Manaskara Vedike, proposed a vote of thanks.
Ramesh Kanchan, president Udupi block congress, Ashok Kumar Kodavoor president Udupi district Congress, Fr William Marties, Dr. Gerald Issac Lobo Bishop, Diocese of Udupi, Fr Denis D'Sa, PRO, Diocese of Udupi, Congress leaders Prasad Raj Kanchan, Kishan Hegde and Veronica Cornelio, Roshini Olivera, Sunitha Shetty, Nagesh Kumar Udyavar, Yaseen Malpe, Sundar Master, Ronald Almeida, Louis Lobo, Fr Noel Lewis, Fr David Crasta and others were also present.