By Matters India Reporter
Patna, June 26, 2023: Some 500 people from all walks of life came together in Patna to organize a silent march and interfaith prayer to mark their protest against the continued violence and human rights violations in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur.
“Manipur has been burning for the past 53 days. Silence is not an option. If I remain silent about the great tragedy of Manipur, then somewhere it will be taken as though I have given my consent to this gross violation of humanity,” asserted Presentation Sister Dorothy Fernandes, the convenor of the June 25 event in the capital of Bihar state in eastern India.
The Catholic nun, who is also the national convener of the Forum of Religious for Justice and Peace, bemoaned that “precious lives” were lost and properties looted in the violence that has led fear becoming the order of the day.
“In such a situation of gross violation of human rights, those in power haven’t spoken up. So, we the people are speaking through a silent march. We implore the government of India and all state governments to intervene and restore peace, harmony and humanity,” Sister Fernandes asserted.
Ethnic clashes that began May 3 continues even after 54 days, noted the concerned citizens of Bihar.
The solidarity march, under the banner of Bihar Nagrik Adhikaar Manch [Bihar Citizen’s Rights Forum], gathered at the downtown Dak Bungalow Chouraha (crossing).
Several leaders of political parties and social organization attended the program.
Religious leaders from Sikh, Hindu, Muslim, Christian and Buddhist communities offered prayers for Peace and Harmony during a short inter-faith service when the procession reached Buddha Smriti park.
S K Lawrence, representative of the Bihar Chapter of International Human Rights Council, called for a speedy resolution to the problem. He remined the prime minister that Manipur has burned for more than 50 days, making “the situation is out of control” with thousands of lives ruined, homes destroyed, people killed. “And still, you are silent?”
Jesuit social activist Father Prakash Louis stated that the ruling establishment’s experiment in Manipur and its sinister plan to experiment similar violation in northeast has raised serious questions to the fundamentals of the Indian Constitution – democracy, socialism, civil right, equal treatment of all.
A press release issued by the organizers quoted news reports to point out that by June 5, some 3,413 homes had been destroyed, 105 people had been killed, and over 40,000 displaced. The estimates, it adds, say 55,000 people are displaced.
Entire villages have been razed to the ground. The violence still continues.
“If all Indians are our brothers and sisters, then we have to be alive to the politics of hate that is causing the violence and affecting our Manipuri sisters, said Pranesh Chandan Singh, a 28-year-old volunteer from Bihar’s Munger, a rallyist.
Mukund Singh, social activist and a politician, said “The politics of hate that has been fanned in Manipur, will spread to destroy the whole country. If you spread hate, you will end up with nothing, so we must counter hate with love. This is our reason for joining this rally.”
Anjum Ara, social activist and another political, blamed the incompetence of the federal government for the inept handling of the Manipur situation. She criticized the way communal elements exploit the Manipur situation. She appealed to the federal government to intervene and bring peace and stability to the region.