Manipur Violence: Eminent theatre personality Ratan Thiyam opts out of peace panel

Eminent theatre personality Ratan Thiyam has refused to be part of the 51-member peace committee, headed by governor Anusuiya Uikey, closely after a Meitei civil society organisation and an apex Kuki organisation had also expressed their unwillingness to be part of this exercise. The peace committee was set up by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs last week.

Thiyam told a local television channel that he has pulled out due to his prior preoccupation.

"There is so much violence and we are yet to hear a word from Prime Minister Narendra Modi...We need political will and political power. So many people are dying even today. Unless the Centre comes to the picture, the situation will continue to be alarming. I have never seen such a situation," the playwright said.


A Meitei civil society organisation on Tuesday announced its withdrawal from the peace committee while an apex Kuki organisation expressed its unhappiness over the committee's unilateral formation and objected to the inclusion of chief minister N Biren Singh in it.