Row over covering ‘Manipur' on bus: Protesters scuffle with forces, Meitei group to meet MHA officials in Delhi
The group's convenor Khuraijam Athouba said Sunday that a seven-member delegation of COCOMI, an umbrella body of Meitei groups, will meet Union Home Ministry officials in New Delhi Tuesday and discuss the present situation in Manipur, particularly the row over hiding the state's name on a government bus in Gwaltabi. He said the agenda for the meeting includes the demand for a public apology from Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla over the Gwaltabi incident, and the removal of the chief secretary, DGP, and security advisor.
'The Ministry of Home Affairs has extended an invitation to COCOMI for an exclusive meeting. The meeting is scheduled on Tuesday,' Athouba said.
The group said the meeting aimed to initiate follow-up action on the resolutions adopted during the Manipur People's Convention May 3, 2025 at Khuman Lampak, Imphal.
It was alleged that on May 20 security forces stopped a state-run bus, carrying journalists in Ukhrul district near the Gwaltabi checkpost and forced the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) staffers to cover the state's name written on the windshield with a white paper.
On Sunday, a scuffle broke out between protesters and security forces. The forces fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd, resulting in at least seven women sustaining injuries.
Condemning the action , COCOMI said, 'The deployment of such aggressive crowd control measures against unarmed civilians, many of whom were mothers and elderly women, is deeply concerning. COCOMI demands that such hostile actions by security forces must immediately cease.' Athouba reiterated the demand for the resignation or immediate transfer of the Chief Secretary, DGP, and Security Advisor.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
20 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Assam Public Service Commission cancels controversial question on Manipur crisis amid Meitei concerns
A Meitei organization in Manipur reported that the Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) has cancelled a question about the Manipur crisis from a recent exam after the organization claimed it maligned their community. The APSC stated that the question papers were set by external educators and couldn't be pre-screened. The organization has expressed its appreciation for the APSC's action. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads A Meitei organisation from Manipur has claimed that the Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) has cancelled a question on the Manipur crisis from a recently held organization has moved APSC claiming that question maligned the organization stated that APSC Chairman Debaraj Upadhaya said question papers were set by teachers at various colleges and universities and the Commission cannot check them beforehand as they were 'locked' by moderators. Meitei Heritage Society stated , "We received communication from the Assam Public Service Commission through e-mail informing us that the Commission has decided to cancel the question. "The question was included in the Agricultural Development Officer Examination held on August society stated, "We appreciate the action and hope no such instance is repeated that hurt sentiments of any community. "At least 260 people were killed in ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities and thousands rendered homeless since May 2023.
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
Himachal Vidhan Sabha again clears without changes the Bill that Gov wanted tweaked
The Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha Tuesday rejected Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla's recommendations to make changes in the Agriculture, Horticulture & Forestry (Amendment) Bill, 2023. The House, instead, again cleared the Bill, which had earlier been returned by the Governor. The Bill will again be sent to the Governor for his assent. The amended Bill, originally passed by the Assembly on September 21, 2023, was introduced again by Agriculture Minister Chander Kumar. Explaining the move, Kumar said, 'The amendment Bill was sent to the Governor for assent but was referred back with observations, including a suggestion to add Section 4(3)(1) of the Model Act for Higher Agricultural Educational Institutions in India (Revised 2023).' He added that the Council of Ministers, in its meeting on July 29, 2024, decided to move a resolution for reconsideration and re-passage of the Bill. Governor Shukla had recommended amendments in line with the Union Government's Model Act, which would have empowered the Chancellor (Governor) to appoint Vice-Chancellors through a selection committee, with inputs from a nominee panel including experts from central institutions such as CSIR. By rejecting these proposals, the Assembly has retained the state government's control over the appointment process. The development comes days after the Himachal Pradesh High Court stayed advertisements issued by Raj Bhavan inviting applications for V-C posts at Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, and CSK HP Agricultural University, Palampur. The state government had earlier withdrawn these notifications as 'beyond the Governor's legal competence,' but Raj Bhavan reinstated them and extended the deadlines, calling the withdrawal 'illegal and unconstitutional.' Governor Shukla has maintained that under the 1986 Universities Act, the Chancellor alone has authority to initiate VC appointments and is not bound by cabinet advice, citing Supreme Court precedents. On August 14, the standoff between the Himachal Pradesh government and the Raj Bhavan deepened, with the Governor's Secretariat declaring the state government's August 11 order to withdraw recruitment advertisements 'illegal and unconstitutional'. In an official communication issued later, the Raj Bhavan confirmed the process to appoint vice-chancellors for Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Palampur, and Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry, Nauni, Solan, would 'continue as planned'. The deadline for submitting applications has now been extended up to 5 pm on August 18. According to the Raj Bhavan notification, the advertisements for the posts were originally issued by the Governor's Secretariat under statutory powers vested in the Chancellor by Section 24 of the Himachal Pradesh University of Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry Act, 1986, as these positions have been lying vacant since August 21, 2023, and May 8, 2025, respectively, necessitating immediate appointments to ensure smooth functioning of the universities.
Hindustan Times
7 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Himachal assembly refuses to amend Bill on appointment of vice-chancellors
Amid the standoff between the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Congress government and the Raj Bhavan over the appointment of vice-chancellors at two agricultural universities, the assembly on Tuesday rejected governor-cum-chancellor Shiv Pratap Shukla's proposal to amend the Himachal Pradesh Agriculture and Horticulture University Act, 2024, in line with the Centre's Model Act in the absence of the opposition BJP in the House. Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu addressing the House during the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha monsoon session in Shimla on Tuesday. (HT Photo) The Himachal Pradesh Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry University (Amendment) Bill, 2024, that was passed in September 2024 was sent for the approval of the governor, but he recently sent it back with objections. The governor recommended that as chancellor, he should directly appoint vice-chancellors, with inputs from a nominee, including an expert from central institutions such as the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). The rejection of these amendments effectively nullifies this suggestion and keeps the power balance tilted toward the state government. On Tuesday, state agriculture minister Chander Kumar tabled amendments to Section 4(1) and a new Section 4(3) on the lines of the central framework and sought to strengthen the governor's hands in the appointment of vice-chancellors. But in the absence of the BJP MLAs, the House turned down the proposal through a voice vote. After this Chander Kumar tabled the Himachal Pradesh Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry University (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (Bill No. 14 of 2023) for reconsideration, which was approved by the House without any amendment with a voice note in the BJP's absence. The Bill provides that the governor shall appoint the V-Cs on the 'aid and advice' of the government. Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania then ruled that the Act would remain in its original assembly-approved form, as passed last September. State govt, governor at loggerheads On July 21, Raj Bhavan issued an advertisement for the appointment of the vice-chancellors of Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur, and Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar Horticulture and Forestry University, Nauni. On August 12, the state government withdrew the advertisement declaring any action taken under it 'null and void' bringing the state government and Raj Bhavan at loggerheads. Instead on August 13, Raj Bhavan issued a detailed order through which the governor restored the July 21 advertisements for both universities and extended the application deadline to August 18. He maintained that the chancellor, vested with statutory powers under Section 24 of the Himachal Pradesh Universities of Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry Act, 1986, is the sole competent authority to initiate the V-C appointment process. On August 14, the Himachal Pradesh high court stayed the Raj Bhavan's advertisement. Governor Shukla insisted that under the 1986 Universities Act, the chancellor alone has the authority to initiate V-C appointments and is not bound by cabinet advice, citing Supreme Court precedents. In contrast, advocate general Anup Rattan, representing the state, informed the high court that the secretary of the governor does not have the right to issue a notice for the recruitment of vice-chancellor, rather the notice should be issued by the administrative heads of the agriculture and horticulture departments.
