Bhalla boycotted, COCOMI set to march to Raj Bhavan
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 24 2025:
Close on the heels of the 48 hours general strike, the COCOMI has announced a series of intense agitation which includes boycotting Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla with immediate effect and marching to the Raj Bhavan from May 25 .
Speaking to media persons at their Lamphelpat office today, COCOMI convenor Khuraijam Athouba said that the 48 hours general strike from the midnight of May 22 was called denouncing how the collective identity of Manipur was insulted by forcing an MST bus to conceal its signage "Manipur State Transport" enroute to Ukhrul.
Even as the Governor was asked to tender an apology within 48 hours for insulting the collective identity of Manipur, Ajay Kumar Bhalla has been refusing to come out with any apology.
The matter cannot be hushed up or compromised for it undermines the State's identity and values, Athouba said.
He said that the COCOMI held a series of meetings from Friday with its executive committee, advisors and consultative meetings and the committee has decided on the next course of action.
Being the head of the State, the Governor ought to tender an apology for insulting the collective identity of Manipur but he refused to do so.
As such, the people of Manipur have boycotted the Governor with immediate effect, he said.
No individual or organisation shall invite, attend or organise any function involving the Governor's participation until he tenders a public apology.
Mass protests, rallies, torch processions, and sit-ins will be organized across all districts of Manipur.
The people will express their collective resistance through democratic and non-violent means, Athouba said.
Announcing that a civil disobedience campaign has been launched against the PR administration, the COCOMI convenor appealed to all the citizens to cease all cooperation with Central Government offices whose decisions have repeatedly undermined the State's dignity.
Nonetheless, educational institutions, sports, health, banks, postal services and essential services would be exempted, he said.
Asserting that the Security Advisor, the Chief Secretary the Director General of Police (DGP), and have consistently failed the people of Manipur, the COCOMI convenor demanded their immediate resignation.
He said that mass demonstrations would be held at strategic locations and the ongoing agitation would be intensified at the Raj Bhavan, Central Government offices and district headquarters.
Athouba appealed to all sections of people to march to the Raj Bhavan from different directions and demand the Governor to tender an apology.
"Even if we protest at the gate of Raj Bhavan, there is no need to talk with Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla.
We may talk with him only after he tenders an apology", he said.
He also appealed to all the people to stage sit-in protests, torch rallies, human chains etc at their respective localities.
At the district level, people would march to the offices of Deputy Commissioners and submit memoranda to the DCs demanding the Governor to tender an apology.
Apart from the Governor's apology, the people's other demands are resignation of the incompetent top administrative officials (Chief Secretary, Security Advisor and DGP) from their respective posts, replacement of the administrative enquiry committee set up by the Government with an independent enquiry committee headed by a retired Session or High Court Judge and issuing a convincing explanation to the people of Manipur on the Gwaltabi incident.
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 Manipur's identity under the guise of PR governance, Athouba said.
"Manipur is not a negotiable term.
It is our name, our soul, our heritage.
We will defend it united, unwavering until justice prevails", he added.
He said that the protest movement will continue until the people's demands are addressed satisfactorily.
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