Breakthrough likely in fresh row brewing in Manipur as Centre meets key outfit

On Monday, the protests had forced Manipur Governor Ajay Bhalla, who was returning from Delhi after a meeting, to take a chopper to his residence from the Imphal airport. Congress state president K Meghachandra Singh said the incident showed the failure of President’s Rule in the state.

The seven-member COCOMI delegation, led by its convenor Khuraijam Athouba, met the Home Ministry’s North East Advisor A K Mishra and Intelligence Bureau Joint Director Rajesh Kamble.

Athouba told The Indian Express: “We had a good talk. We spoke about various issues, including our engagement with the government over the Manipur situation, our opposition to giving legitimacy to SoO groups (the groups with which the government has reached suspension of operations agreements) and the problem of narco-terrorism in the state. We also told them about the sentiment in the Valley over the current row. They said they would convey the same to the government. We hope the government will take action.”

While COCOMI has been seeking resignations of DGP, Chief Secretary and Advisor to the Manipur government, sources said Centre may not cede more than a statement of regret over the issue. Sources within the Meitei civil society also indicated that an apology could bring the anger in the Valley down.

The row stems from a May 20 incident when security forces allegedly stopped a state-run bus, carrying journalists to cover the Shirui Lily festival in Ukhrul district, near the Gwaltabi checkpost and forced Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) staff to cover the state’s name on the windshield with a white paper. In the Valley, this was seen as an insult to the state.

The festival was a big moment for the administration in Manipur, run by the Home Ministry under President’s Rule, as it was the first time it was being held since the start of the conflict in May 2023. Transport of participants from the Valley to the neutral Naga territory where the festival was held required passing through three Kuki settlements. It was to be the first major movement of Meities to the area in two years.
Home Ministry sources said Tuesday that the row was unfortunate and that, contrary to what is being alleged, the security forces had not asked for covering the ‘Manipur’ word on the bus.

“In fact, the security forces were not allowing the bus to go ahead since there are restrictions on plying of state transport buses through Kuki areas… The organisers of the trip suggested that the ‘Manipur’ marking on the bus be covered with white paper so that the bus could go ahead. When this was being done, the journalists in the bus protested and a row erupted,” an official said.

The official added: “After the DIPR decided to take journalists to the Shirui Lily festival, it asked the Transport Department to hire a bus. Ideally, private transport should have been hired. But the state bus was sent.”

Resumption of mobility between Meitei and Kuki areas had been one of the promises made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, after imposition of President’s Rule, with a deadline of March 8 set for it. However, the very first day, a Manipur state transport bus passing through Kangpokpi, a Kuki-dominated district, was fired upon. Manipur State Transport buses have not been plying in Kuki areas since.

In a statement after its meeting with Home Ministry officials Tuesday, COCOMI said: “The delegation conveyed the strong sentiments and demands of the people regarding the Gwaltabi issue. MHA officials assured the matter has been noted for necessary governmental action.”