Athletes: If Manipur land integrity compromised,will return awards

Imphal: International and national award-winning athletes from Manipur on Tuesday said they will return the awards given to them by the government if the state’s territorial integrity is compromised.

Eleven of them will submit a memorandum on the issue to Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his ongoing visit to the state.
L Anita Chanu (Dhyan Chand awardee), Arjuna awardees N Kunjarani Devi (Padma Shri), L Sarita Devi and W Sandhyarani Devi (Padma Shri awardees) and S Mirabai Chanu (Padma Shri and Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna awardee) are among the 11 players included.

“If Amit Shah does not assure us of protecting the integrity of Manipur, we will return our awards given by the Indian government,” Anita Chanu said at a press conference here.
He added that if the demand is not met, the players will not represent India in future and will not train the emerging talent.

The 11 players had gone to submit a memorandum to Shah addressing Prime Minister Narendra Modi but could not do so as Union Home Minister Kuki had left for Churachandpur to meet victims and organizations.
“We have handed over a copy of the memorandum to Chief Minister N Biren Singh. He has assured us that a meeting will be arranged with the Shah after his return from Churachandpur in the evening. Then we will hand over the memorandum to him,” said Chanu.
The memorandum was also signed by other Arjun awardees of the state. They are Oinam Bembem Devi (also Padma Shri), N. Soniya Chanu, M. Biojit Singh, Y. Sanathoi Devi, L. Shushila Devi and M. Suranjoy Singh.
In the memorandum, the players questioned central security forces in controlling the violence despite “kuki terrorists challenging the integrity of Manipur” by killing people and burning houses.

We condemn such attacks on unarmed civilians, especially in the peripheral areas of the valley districts.
The players demanded cancellation of the suspension of operations (SOO) agreement with the Kuki militant groups, restoration of peace and normalcy as soon as possible and protection of the unity and integrity of Manipur.
The memorandum stated that “the demand for partition of Manipur is not acceptable under any circumstances” and demanded the deportation of all illegal immigrants.

Sports personalities also urged the government to end the blockade on NH 2 as the prices of essential commodities are skyrocketing.
The highway runs from Dibrugarh in Assam to Tuipang in Mizoram. It passes through Assam, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram.
“The Meiteis are allowed to settle only in the Valley which is only 10% of the total geographical area of ​​Manipur. If the present system is allowed to continue, where will they settle after a few years? So, the Meiteis are allowed to settle in the hills of Manipur. Allow settlement,” the memorandum said.