Imphal: People’s commitee on Manipur integrity has boycotted governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla as he failed to tender an apology over the outrageous restriction on the use of the name “Manipur” on MST buses enroute to Ukhrul for the Shirai Festival on May 20.
Following the expiry of the 48-hour deadline set for the governor of Manipur to tender an apology over the outrageous restriction on the use of the name “Manipur” on MST buses enroute to Ukhrul for the Shirai Festival on May 20, Coordinating Commitee on Manipur Integrity (Cocomi), on Saturday, announced to enter to statewide mass agitation.
“The refusal of the governor and the President’s Rule administration to acknowledge and apologize for this deep insult to the state’s identity confirms their disconnect from the ground reality and their disdain for the sentiments of the people,” said a Cocomi statement.
The committee made Key Declarations of the Mass Agitation starting on Sunday to launch Public Boycott of the governor. “The governor of Manipur is henceforth boycotted by all public, civil, and cultural platforms. No individual or organization shall invite, attend, or organize any function involving his participation until a public apology is made.”
It declared that statewide public mobilization has begun for mass protests, rallies, torch processions, and sit-ins across Manipur. “People will express their collective resistance through democratic and non-violent means.”
“A civil disobedience campaign begins against the PR administration. Citizens are urged to cease all cooperation with central government offices whose decisions have repeatedly undermined the state’s dignity,” the people’s committee declared.
It exempted educational institutions, sports, nealth, banks, postal services and essential services.
The committee demanded immediate resignation of top officials —the security advisor, DGP and chief secretary, for they have ‘consistently failed the people of Manipur’. “We demand their immediate resignation for their role in enabling and evading from such disgraceful actions.”
It announced to stage mass demonstrations at Strategic Locations and to intensify agitations at Raj Bhavan, central government offices, and district headquarters and PR offices.
Communities, students, women’s groups, and CSOs are called to take active roles in organizing cultural expressions of Manipuri identity, and door-to-door and loudspeaker campaigns to build momentum to push the demands, the committee declared.
“This movement is not a protest against peace. It is a protest against the surrender of governance to narco-terror threats, the alienation of Manipur’s people, and the erasure of our identity under the guise of PR governance,” Cocomi said.
“Manipur is not a negotiable term. It is our name, our soul, our heritage. We shall defend it, united, unwavering, and until justice prevails.”
Convenor Kh. Athouba condemned the governor’s silence and criticized the PR administration’s failure to address what he described as a grave affront to the state’s identity.
Athouba accused the governor and PR authorities of being disconnected from the ground reality and indifferent to the sentiments of the people.
“The movement is not a protest against peace, but a protest against the surrender of governance to narco-terror threats, the alienation of the people of Manipur, and the erasure of the state’s identity under the PR regime.” he said.
