All schools in Punjab were ordered shut today in view of the bandh called by the Christian and Dalit communities in the state.
New Delhi: All schools in Punjab have been ordered shut on Wednesday by the state government. The schools will remain closed today in view of the bandh called by the Christian and Dalit communities in Punjab.
Why Punjab Schools Will Remain Closed Today
A bandh was called by the Dalit and Christian communities on August 9 in solidarity with the countrywide protest against the ethnic violence where women were targeted in Manipur. The protest is mainly against the May incident where two women, who were allegedly beaten and raped, paraded naked by a group of men – some of them were armed – in the streets of Manipur’s Churachandpur.
For over three months, an outburst of ethnic hatred has turned two communities into mortal enemies in the northeastern state of Manipur. Two communities – Meitei and Kuki – have essentially been at war over the battle for influence and land in one of the worst ethnic clashes that broke out in Manipur. Hundreds have died, and several people lost their homes, turning them into refugees while many women have become the target of sexual violence since May 3 when the clashes first broke out.
Manipur has been the scene of a near-civil war that was sparked by Kuki community protesting against a demand by the Meiteis for a special status that would let them buy land in the hills populated by Kukis and other tribal groups, as well as a guaranteed share of government jobs.
The Meitei have sought special benefits for more than a decade, but received a fillip in April after the Manipur High Court recommended the government should consider the demand and set a deadline of mid-May.
Meiteis account for half of Manipur’s population and extending limited affirmative action quotas to them would mean they would get a share in education and government jobs reserved for Kukis and Nagas.
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