Improvised security steps for Shirui Lily festival!
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: May 21, 2025 -

AMID claims by government authorities that elaborate security arrangements have been made for the smooth conduct of the five-day 5th State-Level Shirui Lily Festival in Ukhrul district, personnel of a central security force forbidding Imphal-based media persons, who were travelling in a Manipur State Transport (MST) bus, from crossing the security check point in Gwaltabi area along the Imphal-Ukhrul route, on the ground that the vehicle has the word 'Manipur' not only manifest insensitivity, inefficiency and complicity of the central forces from the perspective of the on-going Kuki-Meetei conflict but also underscores lack of coordination among the law enforcing agencies as well as government establishments overseeing the festival.

That the sordid situation was primarily due to miscommunication among the departments concerned could be comprehended from separate notifications issued regarding the arrangement for transportation of visitors from Imphal upto Ukhrul districts for the tourism promotional festival with one issued to the media on May 6 specifying utilisation of the MST buses whereas the other issued on May 18 but not made available to the media had no reference about MST.

Circulation of such discrepant notices is not only perplexing but smacks of acting under duress. Security concerns might be the reason for the latter notification but it is unfathomable why the government authorities perceived it wise to toe the line and appease the other community which is hell-bent on balkanising Manipur.

It is also questionable for what reason or on whose intimation the central forces insisted on removing/covering up 'Manipur' from the state-owned bus, an act amounting to abetting division of Manipur on ethnic lines.

The fact that the central forces halted the bus carrying the media persons being escorted by a police team and categorically told the occupants to either remove the word 'Manipur' from the vehicle's front windshield or wouldn't be permitted to proceed also tantamount to legitimising the demand for separate administration for the Kuki-Zo community and rubbing salt on the wound of those advocating territorial and emotional integrity of Manipur.

Such antagonistic attitude of the central forces also compels one to question purpose of their deployment in the state, who are actually helming the state's affairs and whether the additional companies of central armed police forces rushed into the state are simply to enforce instructions from the Union government to effectively polarise the society.

Moreover, government authorities would have been commended had they conceded inability to govern the state instead of befooling the people with the assurance for safe journey, to and from Ukhrul district.

It is disheartening that the central government is not exhibiting interest in finding the root causes of the conflict afflicting Manipur and addressing the malaise but seems quite satisfied with the growing chasm in the society and drawing pleasure from confining the communities in conflict within their respective areas of habitation.

If the central forces are averse to the idea of Manipur government-owned public carriers operating in specific region of the state then there is no reason why the people shouldn't cast aspersions on commitment, neutrality and sincerity of such forces; cite their presence in the state as one of the factors for the distressful situation besieging the masses; and be apprehensive of the day when authorities of central forces propose, among others, relocation of the government offices from Kuki populated areas to the valley districts.