53 days of Manipur violence: PM still silent, vocal civil society stage protest near parliament

Even as a large-scale, unprecedented ethnic violence has gripped the state of Manipur for more than 52 days, PM Modi — who recently lectured world media on democracy during a presser in the White House — has remained silent over the issue.

Contrary to the ‘studied silence’ maintained by the PM, members of civil society have been vocal on the issue. Led by the All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) — the women's wing of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), thousands of Manipuri people living in Delhi held a demonstration at Jantar Mantar — near the parliament on Saturday (June 24).  

Demanding the imposition of the president’s rule and protection of tribal land and rights, some protesters pitched for the division of the state. “Separation only solution,” read one of the placards.