COCOMI says no to Sangai Fest amid the restive situation
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 16 2019: The Coordinating Committee On Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has appealed all concerned against organising Sangai Festival but to respect the sentiments of the people in light of the uncertainty and apprehension running high in the State regarding the Naga political issue.

The committee has also appealed the general public not to extend any cooperation to the festival.

The committee informed that it has come to learn about BJP workers going from one Assembly segment to another in a campaign to make people opt out from participating in any of COCOMI's protest.

COCOMI says no to Sangai Fest amid the restive situation

It then urged the public to take up befitting actions against such people.

Speaking to media persons at the office of Mani- pur Muslim Welfare Organisation (MMWO) at Hatta today, COCOMI coordinator Sunil Karam explained that the committee did not boycott the Sangai Festival without having any proper reason.

He said that even after the Centre and the Naga organisations reached some sort of agreement at the October 31 talks, the Centre has failed to provide a clear cut and transparent answer to the demands of COCOMI and the people of Manipur till date.

Pointing out that one of the demands of the people is to refrain from taking any decisions based on ethnic lines, Sunil said that even though Prime Minister Modi assured the people in 2017 that the State Government and the stakeholders concerned will be consulted before any form of solution to the Naga political issue is worked out, no such things have been done till date.

Even at this stage when almost everything has been finished and only the formal signing of the pact is left, the people have been kept in the dark about the contents of the peace talks and the Framework Agreement.

COCOMI and the people suspect that one of the main reason for this secrecy is some points of the agreements will definitely affect Manipur in one way or the other.

Sunil continued that the committee, believing the State Government is different from the Centre, has been spearheading a mass people's movement voicing the demand for a special State Assembly session.

However, the State Government completely disregarded the appeal of COCOMI and the people and instead it opted to contend that holding an Assembly session is quite useless.

Pointing out that there is no greater danger than the threat to the integrity of Manipur, the COCOMI coordinator reasoned that organising Sangai Festival at such a critical juncture will be akin to completely ignoring the danger to the State and its people.

This is the reason why COCOMI decided to boycott the festival which is set to begin from November 23, he explained.

The festival is not more important than the fate of the State.

Such festivals can be held a thousand times after the threat is resolved.

Once Manipur is lost, it will be over, he said, appealing the people to support COCOMI's boycott of the festival.

He appealed to all those to be involved in the festival, including stalls owners, organisers, cultural troupes, sound and light technicians etc not to take part in any activity related to the festival.

Sunil then said that the hurried attempt of the Government to organise the Sangai Festival as if the festival is more important then the future of Manipur, is extremely disappointing and condemnable.

If the people decide enough is enough, then the end result will not be good, he cautioned.

Accusing MP Dr RK Ranjan of making statements which were offensive to say the least, and were not in accordance with his image as an MP elected by the people, the coordinator strongly condemned the actions of the MP and accused Dr Ranjan of forgetting his roots in his attempt to please his Central masters.

Pointing out that an article written by Radhabinod Koijam, who is a member of the Consultative Committee formed by the State Government on issues concerning the Naga peace talks, accused the Meiteis of having a feudal mindset and said that something must be given as Muivah hails from Ukhrul, Sunil said that Radhabinod should have stayed neutral as a member of the said committee.

Appealing the Government to look into his action immediately, Sunil demanded the Government to control Radhabinod properly as well.

On the other hand, he alleged that COCOMI has received information of BJP workers going from one Assembly segment to another campaigning to ensure that people do not associate themselves with any of COCOMI's protest.

Labelling such people as ones who wish to destroy the State, Sunil urged the public to do the needful against such rotten people in the interest of Manipur.

He also demanded BJP to halt all processes related to election of the party's organisation committee immediately.