Manipur violence: Jharkhand minister Champai Soren urges President Droupadi Murmu to intervene

RANCHI: State transport minister and veteran JMM tribal leader from the Kolhan division, Champai Soren, on Thursday expressed concern over the widespread violence in Manipur and urged President Droupadi Murmu to intervene for the safety of the scores of tribals living in the hilly state.
He also asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to break his silence and fulfil his ‘raaj-dharam’ (duty towards the state) in connection with the case.
Large-scale violence broke out in Manipur, a hilly state ruled by BJP in the northeast, on Wednesday after a ‘Tribal Solidarity Rally’ organised by the All Tribal Students’ Union, Manipur, (ATSUM) in the Torbung region of Churachandarpur district. The tribals hold the rally against the demand of Meiteis for the Scheduled Tribe (ST) status and some of them started burning the houses of Meiteis in the Torbung area.
While Army and additional paramilitary forces have been deployed in the violence-torn areas and a curfew imposed in several districts, the internet has also been suspended in the entire state.
Reacting to the situation on Thursday morning, Champai tweeted, “The visuals emerging from Manipur is disturbing and a serious cause of concern. This hilly state is home to several tribals, who have been living there for ages. They held a rally in protest against the demands of Meiteis for the Scheduled Tribe status. But they are being subjected to violent assaults, their houses are targeted and villages uprooted. What is their fault after all?”
“Dear Prime Minister Narendra Modi, your party is in power in Manipur. Kindly, follow raaj-dharam. I appeal to President Ma’am to stand up for the tribals and their cause. They want your support. Intervene for their safety,” he added.