Be clear on Manipur's status, Cong tells Delhi
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 27 2025:
The Congress party has categorically asked the Government of India to announce clearly and boldly whether Manipur is still a part of India or not, instead of insulting the State.
The Congress party today observed the 61st death anniversary of India's first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru at Congress Bhavan, BT Road here today.
Speaking on the occasion, CLP leader and former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi decried that the whole State of Manipur was insulted when troops of Mahar Regiment stopped an MST bus carrying journalists to Shirui Lily Festival 2025 at Gwaltabi and forced the bus to cover up the word "Manipur" painted on its front.
It is a matter of grave concern that neither BJP nor its MLAs have so far made any attempt to know the reason why the MST bus was forced to cover up the word "Manipur" while plying within Manipur, Ibobi said.
The troops of Mahar Regiment had the audacity to force the MST bus to cover up the word "Manipur" because they received a specific order from the higher authority of the PR administration.
Without the higher authority's order, the troops would not have dared to force the MST bus to cover up the word "Manipur", he said.
In case, the troops of Mahar Regiment acted on their own without the higher authority's order, befitting action must be initiated against the troop but no tangible action has been taken up against them till date, he said.
If the particular order was issued by the Governor or the Security Advisor or the Chief Secretary or the DGP, whoever issued the order must tender an honest apology to the people of Manipur, the former Chief Minister asserted.
It is a well known historical fact that Manipur existed as an independent Nation for thousands of years.
Just as India became an independent country after the lapse of the British paramountcy, Manipur too regained its independence outside the Indian Union, he said.
It was only on October 15, 1949 that Manipur was merged into the Indian Union.
The Governor, the Security Advisor, the Chief Secretary and the DGP must keep this fact in mind, Ibobi asserted.
It would not be right for the BJP MLAs to keep silent on such a sensitive issue of forced concealment of the word "Manipur" within Manipur.
BJP and its MLAs must work together and talk with the Prime Minister, the Union Home Minister and the Defence Minister to know the man who gave the outrageous order, he said.
They may also talk with the Governor to trace the source of the bewildering order if they genuinely love Manipur and feel the people's sentiment, Ibobi added.
He remarked that Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla's inability to travel by road from Imphal airport to Raj Bhavan is a matter of utter shame.
The way the Governor flew from Imphal airport to Kangla in a helicopter to reach Raj Bhavan is shameful for the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister too, he said.
Instead of insulting Manipur, the Government of India may say clearly that Manipur is not a part of India, said Ibobi and added if the Government of India strikes such a stand, the people of Manipur may work for self determination.
After all Manipuris governed themselves for thousands of years, Ibobi said.
The former Chief Minister said that BJP and its allies have more than enough MLAs to form a Government.
Even if it is not feasible for the Kuki MLAs to come to Imphal, a popular Government can be formed without them, he said.
The Congress party is always committed to protect the territorial integrity of Manipur and fight all challenges to the integrity of Manipur, he added.
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