'Protests to continue until Bhalla apologises, next course to entail closure of Central institutes'
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 26 2025: The COCOMI has announced that the ongoing protest movement against forced concealment of the word "Manipur" painted on a Manipur State Transport (MST) bus will continue until and unless Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla tenders an apology to the people of Manipur and in the next course of agitation, Central institutes would be closed with the exception of those related to education, health and essential services.

Today too, a large number of people formed human chains on Airport road (Tiddim Road) and protested the outrageous Gwaltabi incident of May 20 when troops of Mahar Regiment forced an MST bus to conceal its signage "Manipur State Transport" .

Speaking to media persons at Kwakeithel by the sideline of the protest demonstration, COCOMI convenor in-charge Warep-pam Second said that the people were protesting along the Airport road demanding an apology from Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla as he landed at the airport from Delhi today.

The Governor, instead of respecting the people's wounded sentiments, flew away from the airport in a helicopter and landed at Kangla.

The way Ajay Kumar Bhalla evaded the people was an act of cowardice, Second said.

He said that the Governor must tender an apology or face the people's ire.

In the next course of agitation, even Central institutes would be closed with the exception of those related to education, health and essential services, he said.

March rallies would be taken out at district level too and memorandums would be submitted to the respective DCs, Second said.

He appealed to all the people to join the protest movement against the brazen attempt to undermine the integrity and identity of Manipur.

COCOMI Women Front convenor RK Tharaksana questioned the implication of Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla's inability to go from Imphal airport to Raj Bhavan by road.

By choosing to fly away in a helicopter from the airport to Kangla enroute to Raj Bhavan in the face of the democratic agitation staged by students and womenfolk, the Governor only exposed his guilt, she asserted.

Saying that the Governor's choice of travelling to Raj Bhavan from airport by air has infuriated the people, she asserted that the protest movement will continue until and unless Ajay Kumar Bhalla tenders an apology to the people of Manipur.

She also condemned the act of firing tear gas shells by security forces upon nonviolent protesters today.

Notably, the COCOMI called a 48 hour general strike demanding an apology from the Governor for the Gwaltabi outrage within 48 hours.

As the Governor refused to tender any apology even after the general strike, a large number of people marched to the Raj Bhavan on Sunday and seven women protesters sustained injuries in the ensuing confrontation with security forces.

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