Women protesters stormed former Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) President, M. Barish Sharma's residence at Wangkhei Ningthem Pukhri Mapal, Imphal East, on February 17, demanding an apology for his controversial Facebook post N. Biren Singh and Meira Paibi.
The post, which claimed that Meira Paibi protests were staged for Rs 500 per participant, led to outrage among the protesters who deemed the remarks baseless and defamatory.
One of the protesters, speaking on behalf of the group, expressed deep anguish over Barish's statement. "We are shocked and saddened by his remarks. He has maligned the women protesters who have been actively working for the betterment of Manipur during this conflict. We demand an apology," the protester stated.
The post, uploaded on February 12, was seen as an attack on the integrity of the women who have long been at the forefront of activism in Manipur. The protesters gathered in strong condemnation, asserting that such baseless accusations tarnished the image of those participating in the protests.
The situation escalated when Barish Sharma emerged from his residence and confronted the group of Meira Paibi. His angry response was captured in a viral video, further intensifying the controversy. During the confrontation, Barish expressed his frustration, even directing his anger towards the group of women.
In a surprising turn, Barish Sharma accused former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh of being responsible for the ongoing crisis in Manipur. He claimed that Biren had made several attempts on his life and revealed his involvement in various tasks under Biren's orders.
"If we want to reveal everything, I will also disclose whatever I know. How many times has Biren attempted to kill me? I was the first person among the village defenders to be arrested. We went wherever he (Biren) asked us to go. Come kill me if you want to, but I will speak the truth—Biren disintegrated Manipur," Barish declared in the viral video.
This latest controversy has added fuel to the already tense political climate in Manipur, with both Barish Sharma's remarks and his public clash with women protesters drawing significant attention.
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