The Poirei Leimarol Meira Paibi Apunba Lup, a women’s organisation dedicated to preserving Manipur’s integrity and human rights on Sunday has declared that its members from its 24 units spread across the state will abstain from participating in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Manipur.
The organisation cited the ongoing Kuki aggression, which has engulfed the state in turmoil for the past 10 months, as the primary reason for its decision. According to them, conducting elections amid such a severe crisis is highly inappropriate and unwarranted.
Addressing the media at the organisation’s office in Imphal, Poirei Leimarol’s president S Memcha highlighted the devastating consequences of the prolonged crisis. She pointed out that the conflict has resulted in the loss of many innocent lives and has displaced numerous families, creating an atmosphere of fear and instability.
Memcha emphasised the urgent need to resolve the ongoing crisis before proceeding with the electoral process and urged the concerned authorities to prioritise peace and stability in the region over political agendas.
Echoing similar sentiments, general secretary of Poirei Leimarol Th (o) Apabi blamed the ongoing crisis on the central government, accusing them of using the conflict as a political tool.
She asserted that conducting elections in Manipur under such tense circumstances would only exacerbate the situation.
Apabi went on to warn that holding elections in a state plagued by violence and suffering is akin to inviting another “Nupi Lal,” referring to the historic Nupi Lal in Manipur.
“We will never participate in the election under these conditions,” she firmly stated.
