Amidst the ongoing unrest and violence in Manipur, the state's key sporting figures and international award-winning athletes have threatened to return the awards received from the Indian government. The athletes have raised multiple demands and urged the country's government to ensure that the state's territorial integrity is not compromised.
Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Mirabai Chanu is among the 11 sportspersons from the state who have framed a memorandum that they will submit to Home Minister Amit Shah as the situation in Maniour continues to deteriorate with each passing day.
In a press conference in Imphal, Dhyan Chand awardee Anita Chanu fired a warning to the Indian government by stating that the athletes will not represent India in the future if their demands are not fulfilled.
"If Amit Shah does not give us an assurance about the protection of the integrity of Manipur, we will return our awards given by the Indian government," Anita Chanu said at a press conference in Imphal.
"If the demand is not met, then the sportspersons will not represent India in the future nor will they train any budding talent, she added.
List of Manipur athletes who have signed the memorandum:
L Anita Chanu (Dhyan Chand awardee)
N Kunjarani Devi (Padma Shri)
L Sarita Devi (Padma Shri awardee)
W Sandhyarani Devi (Padma Shri awardee)
S Mirabai Chanu (Padma Shri and Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna awardee)
Oinam Bembem Devi (also Padma Shri)
N Soniya Chanu
M Biojit Singh
Y Sanathoi Devi
L Shushila Devi
M Suranjoy Singh
The athletes went to submit the memorandum to Amit Shah but couldn't accomplish their goal as the Union home minister had left for Churachandpur. The athletes have submitted their demands to Chief Minister N Biren Singh, who has assured to arrange a meeting between Amit Shah and the athletes.
"We have submitted a copy of the memorandum to Chief Minister N Biren Singh. He has assured us of arranging a meeting with Shah in the evening after his return from Churachandpur. We will hand over the memorandum to him then," Chanu said.
In the memorandum, the athletes have condemned the 'attacks on unarmed civilians, especially in the peripheral areas of the valley districts' while they have urged the government to restore peace in Manipur at the earliest. The athletes have asked the officials to ''lift the blockade on NH 2' as it has led to an increase in the price of essential commodities.
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