Latest news with #CoordinatingCommitteeonManipurIntegrity
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘In 3 months of President's Rule in Manipur, every attempt to restore peace has failed, those against it not held liable': COCOMI
The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), the umbrella body of the Meitei groups, has supported the move for government formation in the state. A day after the outfit held talks with the Union Home Ministry in Delhi over a row brewing on the covering up of 'Manipur' name on a state transport bus, its convenor Khuraijam Athouba told The Indian Express that the administration under President's Rule has not been able to restore peace nor punish those who disturbed it. In an interview, he also talked about the new row over which it announced a state-wide agitation starting May 25, and has demanded an apology from Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, and the removal of Chief Secretary Prashant Kumar Singh, DGP Rajiv Singh and Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh. Excerpts: * Why have you hit the streets over the alleged covering up of the word 'Manipur' on a state transport bus by security forces? This May 20 incident is widely seen as an insult to the identity of the state by the state administration… The top administrators in the state right now – as it is under President's Rule – are the Chief Secretary, DGP and the Security Advisor. If that incident happened under some kind of instruction, the three of them must have knowledge of it. So, we hold them responsible and demanded their replacement… The Governor is the head of the state… So, he should take moral responsibility and we sought an apology from him… There was notification of the constitution of an inquiry committee… but it is not an independent inquiry as it (will be supervised by) the Chief Secretary… We could not get any positive response from the government's side. So, we had to intensify the agitation. * How was your meeting with Home Ministry officials on Tuesday? The meeting was earlier to be held ahead of our May 3 'People's Convention'. But because of Operation Sindoor – the entire nation stood with the government against terrorism – we held it back and extended our solidarity, waiting for the right time. By the time we met on Tuesday, the incident of May 20 had happened. So we included it in our agenda. We told Home Ministry officials that there should be some action from the government's side… We are waiting for the government's response. Hopefully we will see some decisions. * Ten Manipur MLAs met the Governor Wednesday claiming the support of 44 legislators to form a government. Are you in touch with these MLAs? We are not as such, but are planning to hold talks with MLAs regarding the resolutions we adopted so that there can be a unanimous voice before the Centre and an early settlement to the crisis… The MLAs are on the side of the people. However, the general feeling is that they are not doing enough, and have left matters to the civil society rather than functioning as people's representatives. * Do you think President's Rule should be lifted in Manipur and a popular government restored? Yes. The recent incident also shows that President's Rule is an alien administration. They don't understand the state's history and its identity; how the people are sensitive about it. The lack of that kind of understanding creates issues. They are unable to relate to the people. So, President's Rule is not a good choice. We have had bitter experiences with President's Rule in the past as well. If you remember 2001, the Assembly was burnt down during President's Rule… The government was not able to cope with the long-drawn crisis (since May 2023) and so thought of handing over things to the Centre… But after three months of President's Rule, there are no visible results. Every attempt to restore peace has failed, and those against peace have not been held liable. They haven't been punished, controlled or contained. * Has any effort been made to initiate talks with the Kuki side? No, not as of now, as the sane voices among Kuki civilians are yet to come forward. They are completely controlled by armed militant groups, who are solely responsible for this crisis. At Tuesday's meeting too, we told the Home Ministry that it is very important that the government control and contain all the elements trying to disrupt or suppress the voice of innocent civilians on the Kuki and Meitei side as well. We should help these voices emerge. If the government is able to control the separatists, we will also extend our support to talks for reconciliation and restoration of peace and normalcy in the state. We are waiting for that. * In case a popular government does take over, who could be the possible CM? It is difficult for us to comment on that… There are many people who want to become Chief Minister. I don't know what their (motivation) is. Are they trying to prove themselves capable of resolving the crisis, or are they just driven by hunger for power? * One concern of the Centre is that a large portion of the looted weapons and ammunition have not been surrendered yet. As per a government report, 5,000-plus arms have been recovered, most of them from the (Meitei-dominated) Valley. The hill volunteers and armed groups have openly defied the call of the government asking for surrender of arms. Despite this defiance by organisations and village volunteers, the government has not taken any counter-measure. This has created an apprehension in the minds of Valley people about whether surrendering of arms is the right thing or not… This is not conducive.
Scroll.in
7 days ago
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Manipur: Meitei protesters lock Union government offices in Imphal
The student wing of Meitei civil society group Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity on Tuesday intensified its protest against the Manipur administration by locking two Union government offices in Imphal, reported The Telegraph. This came in response to the May 20 incident when the words 'Manipur State Transport' were covered on a state-run bus. Protesters locked the offices of the chief electoral officer and the Geological Survey of India in Imphal West and demanded an apology from Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla. They alsonheld placards that said 'Apology to Manipur or Leave Manipur' and 'President's Rule must stop insulting Manipur's identity'. This was part of the group's broader campaign against Union government bodies. Tuesday marked the third consecutive day of protests. On May 20, central security forces allegedly stopped a group of 20 journalists in Imphal East district and directed them to hide the 'Manipur State Transport' sign on the government bus they were travelling in. The incident occurred at the Gwaltabi checkpoint in Imphal East while the group was travelling to cover the Shirui Lily Festival, a cultural event organised by the state tourism department, in the Naga-majority Ukhrul district. The route to the district passes through several Kuki villages. The team initially tried to comply with the direction. However, delays due to negotiations with the security forces forced them to cancel the trip and return to Imphal. The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity had said at the time that the actions of the security personnel seemed like a deliberate attempt to undermine the authority and legitimacy of the Manipur government within its territory. After the incident, public outrage further intensified in the state following reports that the governor was flown by an Army helicopter from the Imphal airport to Kangla Fort – which is only 300 metres from the Raj Bhavan – in order to bypass road blockades by protesters on Monday, The Telegraph reported. Manipur has been mired in ethnic clashes between the Meiteis and Kuki-Zo-Hmar communities that have killed at least 260 persons and displaced more than 59,000 persons since May 2023. There were periodic upticks in violence in 2024. President's Rule was imposed in February this year after Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned. Bhalla has been administering Manipur since then.
Hindustan Times
7 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Manipur bus row: Central officials locked up by protesters
Tensions escalated across Manipur on Tuesday as the student wing of the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), a Meitei civil body, intensified its agitation by locking several central government offices in the valley districts. Protesters targeted key establishments such as the Geological Survey of India and the District Election Office at Lamphelpat, Imphal West, as part of a growing backlash against the alleged removal of the word 'Manipur' from a state-run bus. The act, which occurred on May 20 when central security personnel reportedly stopped a Manipur State Transport (MST) bus ferrying journalists to the Shirui Lily Festival, Ukhrul and ordered the word 'Manipur' removed from its signage, has become a flashpoint for public outrage. Protesters were seen smearing mud on signboards bearing the Government of India's name, calling the act symbolic of the Centre's 'insensitive treatment' toward the state's identity. Women-led demonstrations erupted simultaneously in multiple districts, including Imphal East and West, with protestors carrying placards reading, 'Self-determination is our birthright.' Human chains were formed outside government offices while slogans condemned the state administration's 'disrespectful and insensitive' handling of the issue. Civil society groups including the All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO), Porei Lei Marol, All Manipur Women's Voluntary Association (AMAWOVA), Manipur Students' Federation (MSF), and Committee on Human Rights (COHR) coordinated the demonstrations. Protesters demanded a formal apology from the Governor and the resignation of the Chief Secretary and Security Advisor for what they called a 'failure of governance.' In a separate development, women's group Imagi Meira stormed the Manipur Legislative Assembly and the BJP state office in Imphal. Thokchom Sujata, the group's convenor, told reporters outside the BJP office that they had submitted an application to the Secretary of the Legislative Assembly seeking details of the annual budget allocation for MLAs. 'All MLAs, including the 10 Kuki-Zo legislators, are enjoying full benefits and salaries from the Assembly, even though the state is under suspended animation,' Sujata said. She alleged that authorities kept directing them back and forth between the Speaker and the secretary without providing the requested information. Criticising the government's inaction, Sujata said, 'If the 10 Kuki-Zo MLAs cannot come to Imphal, then the remaining 44 MLAs excluding the five from Congress should form a popular government.' Manipur has 60 assembly seats in which one seat (Tadubi Assembly constituency) has been remaining vacant after his untimely death. At present Manipur has 59 MLAs. She added, 'We came here to meet the BJP state president, but were denied a meeting with one excuse after another. We are not interested in their power games we want a functioning government that ends the ongoing crisis.' Meanwhile, former chief minister and Congress legislature party (CLP) leader O Ibobi Singh launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah, saying they should be 'ashamed' of the security lapse that forced Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla to be airlifted to Raj Bhawan due to protests. Speaking at the 61st death anniversary of Jawaharlal Nehru at the Manipur PCC office in Imphal on Tuesday, Ibobi called the situation a 'glaring failure of law and order.' He claimed that Governor Bhalla had to detour nearly six kilometres before being airlifted because he could not complete a seven-kilometre road journey from the airport due to demonstrations. Ibobi said if the Governor does not apologise publicly, he may consider filing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) or a Right to Information (RTI) application for accountability. He also criticised the alleged role of the Mahar Regiment in the MST bus signage controversy, calling the removal of the word 'Manipur' from public transport vehicles a threat to the state's territorial integrity. 'This is not just a law and order issue. It reflects an erosion of democratic and constitutional values,' he said, reiterating that the Congress party would never compromise on the state's integrity. Ibobi further denied any talks with the BJP over government formation, stating that the Congress remains firm in its position and that responsibility lies with the BJP to prove its majority and approach the Raj Bhawan.
Indian Express
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Breakthrough likely in fresh row brewing in Manipur as Centre meets key outfit
The row over covering of the word 'Manipur' on a state transport bus a few days ago, which has led to a fresh round of protests in the state, reached Delhi on Tuesday. The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), which is spearheading the protests in Imphal and has been demanding resignation of senior officers over the issue, met senior Union Home Ministry officials. 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.'
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
COCOMI team holds talks on bus row with MHA officials
Guwahati: The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) and senior officials from the Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) held a meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday. During the meeting, the seven-member COCOMI delegation conveyed strong sentiments regarding the deletion of the state's name, 'Manipur', from a bus carrying journalists to Ukhrul district in Manipur. The Manipur home department recently ordered the formation of a committee to examine the facts and circumstances involving security personnel and the Manipur State Road Transport Bus carrying media persons to cover the Shirui Lily Festival on May 20 near the Gwaltabi checkpoint in Imphal East district. After the meeting with MHA officials, COCOMI, in a press statement, said, "The delegation conveyed the strong sentiments and demands of the people regarding the Gwaltabi issue. The MHA officials assured that the matter was noted for necessary governmental action." The MHA was represented by AK Mishra, advisor to the MHA on Northeast affairs, and Rajesh Kamble, joint director, MHA. The COCOMI delegation was led by its convener, Khuraijam Athouba. The COCOMI delegation also highlighted several critical issues requiring immediate attention and urgent intervention from the govt to alleviate the suffering of the civilian population. These include ensuring the free movement of people, safeguarding farmers' right to cultivation along with appropriate compensation for their losses, protection of sacred religious sites, justice for missing persons, and the resettlement and redressal of grievances of internally displaced persons (IDPs). The two-hour-long meeting focused on key concerns surrounding the ongoing crisis in Manipur. "Both sides agreed to maintain communication and continue dialogue in the future, with a shared goal of restoring peace and stability in Manipur at the earliest," stated the COCOMI release.
