On the 13th of September 2021, wrestlers in the Indian state of Manipur suspended their protest against the government’s failure to provide sports infrastructure in the state due to dire security concerns. The Manipuri government has shown indifference towards the state of sports in Manipur, leaving students, players, coaches and referees to suffer. Since the Indian state has been facing a separatist insurgency, there is a huge risk involved in the youth coming to the sports facilities and playgrounds.
Their protest had begun on the 1st of September after about 30 wrestlers started their protest against the state government’s neglect of sports. They were supported by several other wrestlers from other states too.
The athletes have been protesting due to the lack of facilities, even though the state has been producing several national and international medalists in various sports. In a bid to divert attention, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh had promised to allocate a sum of Rs. 15 crores for the construction of a new indoor stadium. However, the athletes refused to back down not solely because of a lack of resources but also the security situation in the area.
During the protest, athletes had gathered outside the office of the Manipur State Sports Council (MSSC) and even refused to eat food offered to them. They demanded concrete action from the state government and asked for the construction work to begin by the end of October this year.
Only after a meeting with the Manipur Olympic Association (MOA) on 13th September 2021 was a decision taken to suspend the protest with the hope that the state government will take their grievances seriously, and the construction work will start soon.
In other news, northeastern state Manipur has been facing violence in several pockets since late August. Violent clashes between various ethnic groups in Churachandpur, the district headquarters of Churachandpur District, have resulted in a number of deaths and injured. The violence in the state, which started a month ago, escalated after miscreants torched a vehicle and later opened fire at another vehicle, injuring four people.
In other parts of India, Prime Minister Modi is set to visit the United States this month to discuss various matters of strategic importance with President Joe Biden. The two leaders are expected to focus on trade, defence, and regional security issues.
In Rajasthan, the Congress party is going through churning, with several party leaders demanding that the party high command take action against those leaders considered instrumental in the party’s poor showing in the recent Assembly elections. The matter has been referred to a three-member panel for deliberations.
Finally, news also came in of floods in the Ukrainian region of Kherson, which have caused widespread damage to houses and crops. The floods have been caused by heavy rainfall, and local authorities have launched relief operations to help the affected population.
In conclusion, the suspension of the protest by Manipur’s wrestlers should serve as a wake-up call to the state government to take sports seriously and provide the necessary infrastructure. Furthermore, the violence in Manipur needs to be resolved as soon as possible to prevent further bloodshed in the region. The upcoming visit of Prime Minister Modi to the United States is of strategic importance for both the countries, and the Congress party’s internal issues in Rajasthan need to be resolved at the earliest. Lastly, aid and support should be provided to the flood-affected people in Ukraine.
