CSOs rally against forced concealment of 'Manipur'
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 22 2025: Taking strong exception to forcing a Manipur State Transport (MST) bus carrying a media team to Shirui Lily Festival 2025 to conceal its signage "Manipur State Transport" by Central security forces at Gwaltabi on May 20, 2025, several CSOs including AMUCO, Poirei Leimarol Meira Paibi Apunba Manipur, All Manipur Women Voluntary Association, Committee on Human Rights and Manipuri Students Federation took out a protest rally at Imphal on Wednesday.

The protesters used placards which read "We condemn India's policy to obliterate Manipur", "We won't allow fragmentation of Manipur", "We condemn Government of India's partisan attitude", "Long live Manipur" etc.

CSOs rally against forced concealment of 'Manipur'

Speaking to media persons by the sideline of the protest rally, AMUCO president Pheiroijam Nando Luwang said that the people of Manipur vehemently condemns Mahar Regiment's act of forcing a bus carrying media persons and travelling within Manipur to conceal its signage "Manipur State Transport".

This outrageous act of the Mahar Regiment violated the Indian Constitution, he said.

He also decried the complete silence of Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Chief Secretary PK Singh and Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh on the outrageous incident.

Forcing the MST bus to conceal the word "Manipur" has enraged the people of the State.

The particular incident has all the potential to spark widespread unrest in the State, he said.

In case the State plunges into widespread unrest because of the particular incident, the Governor, the Chief Secretary and the Security Advisor must be held accountable, Nando said.

The troops of Mahar Regiment forced the MST bus to conceal its signage "Manipur State Transport" at the order of higher authorities.

The Government must take up befitting action against those people who gave the outrageous order.

If the Government cannot take any action, Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla must step down, the AMUCO president asserted.

Questioning the silence of Ajay Kumar Bhalla when the word "Manipur" is forced to be erased within Manipur, the AMUCO president asked if Ajay Kumar Bhalla is the Governor of Manipur or some other State.

If Ajay Kumar Bhalla does not know well about Manipur, he is not fit to remain the Governor of the State, he asserted.

Apart from tendering an apology to the people, the Governor must resign on moral ground, he said.

"We will fight with all our might all attempts to obliterate Manipur", Nando said.

While the Governor remains totally indifferent to the suffering of the tens of thousands of people who are languishing in relief camps for over two years, the Security Advisor who was sent to the State to resolve the crisis has no intention to bring an end to the crisis, he said.

DIPR which arranged the trip to Shirui too should not remain silent.

They must file a complaint with police against those who obstructed the media team from reaching Shirui Lily Festival.

The Tourism Department too should take up necessary action, he added.

The protest rally started from Kwakeithel and concluded at Keishampat.

Meanwhile, Social United Clubs' Organisation, North Imphal United Clubs and Meira Paib Organisation and Imphal East District United Clubs' Organisation took out a torch rally against the Gwaltabi incident under the aegis of AMUCO.

Participants of the rally from various locations gathered at Lamlong Bazar, uniting in their condemnation.