Olympic silver medallist Mirabai Chanu appeals to PM Modi to resolve conflict in her home state Manipur

Olympic silver medallist weightlifter Mirabai Chanu has made a heartfelt appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to bring an end to the ongoing conflict between two communities in her home state of Manipur at the earliest.

Since May 3, Manipur has been engulfed in ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities, resulting in the loss of over 150 lives.

Chanu, who is currently training in the USA, expressed concern about the impact of the conflict on athletes in the northeastern state, as they are unable to train due to the prevailing situation.

In a video shared on her Twitter handle, Chanu stated, "The conflict in Manipur is going to complete three months but peace is yet to return. Many players have not been able to train because of this conflict and there has been disturbance in the study of students. Many lives have been lost and many houses have been burnt down."

She further appealed to the Prime Minister and Home Minister to swiftly resolve the conflict and restore peace to Manipur, as it was before. Despite being far away, Chanu emphasized that she couldn't help but think about the situation in her home state.

"I have my house in Manipur though I am currently training in the USA to prepare for the upcoming World Championships and Asian Games. Even though I am not in Manipur, I always think about when this conflict will end," she expressed.

The ethnic clashes erupted following a 'Tribal Solidarity March' on May 3, organized in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Manipur's population comprises approximately 53% Meiteis, primarily residing in the Imphal Valley, while the remaining 40% consists of tribals such as Nagas and Kukis, who predominantly live in the hill districts.