Governor skirts protesters, heightens tension
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: May 28, 2025 -

THE demands for the apology by the Governor to the people of Manipur and the resignation of the chief secretary, DGP, and security advisor might not be accorded importance by the government authorities but the mass public movement over the May 20 Gwaltabi incident has driven home a clear message that the people of Manipur have firm resolve not to tolerate any acts or policies which undermine interest of the state.

Regardless of the assurances given multiple times by state and central leaders for upholding the territorial integrity of Manipur the threat perception lingers as certain communities averse to the idea of a united Manipur have been campaigning to balkanise the state on ethnic lines and bashing the Meetei community.

In pursuance of the divisive objective relentless attempts are being made to demonise the Meetei community with advocates of such sectarian goal going to the extent of accusing the Meetei people of usurping rights of the tribal population and attributing existence of comparatively better infrastructure in the twin capital districts and achievements of Meetei people in diverse fields to diversion of developmental funds meant for the tribal areas to the valley districts by successive governments.

For instance, the public movement centred on the demand for reintroduction of the inner line permit (ILP) system in the state and granting of scheduled tribe status to the Meetei/Meitei community, had seen tribal leaders and civil society organisations raising objections on the ground that such movements are aimed at strengthening Meetei hegemony unmindful of the fact that both the demands are legitimate under the law of the land and if upheld would help the state protect its territorial and emotional integrity.

As such, there is no reason why the Meetei people shouldn't construe objections to the demand for ILP system as the movement detractors' objective to see the marginalisation of the primary valley settlers.

The apprehension over such hidden agenda, if any, to obliterate the Meetei community is exactly the reason why the valley population are up in arms over the Gwaltabi incident for insistence by personnel of the Mahar Regiment to conceal the state's name 'Manipur' from the government-owned bus is not only ridiculous but also smacks of a hidden agenda.

The government under the President's Rule may be dismissive of the mass movement.

However, demonstrators displaying placards with strong messages such as "Apologise or leave Manipur", "Don't disintegrate Manipur", and "Do not abolish the Meetei community", among others underscore both fear and apprehension over the future of Manipur and outright dislike for the central security forces and their handlers in New Delhi.

For a reminder, the agitation has been triggered after the Mahar Regiment directed the removal/concealment of the word 'Manipur' from a transport bus carrying journalists.

As the incident occurred amid allegations of central forces' complicity in the Kuki-Meetei conflict, the people heeded the call by Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) to launch state-wide agitation, with the second day of the stir compelling the Governor to travel by helicopter from the Airport to Kangla Fort so as to avoid the demonstrators who had lined up along the route the Governor was scheduled to travel upon his return from Delhi, an act tantamount to skirting responsibility in addressing the issue.