Cong demands clarification from Centre, Governor
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 20 2025: The Opposition Congress party has demanded a clarification from the Government of India and the Governor of Manipur regarding the outrageous incident of stopping a team of media persons at Gwaltabi from going to Shirui, Ukhrul and forced re-moval/covering up of the words from "Manipur State Transport" from the bus in which the journalists were travelling.

Speaking to media persons at Congress Bhavan, BT Road here today, Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) spokesman N Bhupenda Meitei said that the Congress party strongly condemns the incident.

From May 3, 2023, movement of people remains severely restricted.

Contrary to the Government's announcement that strong security measures have been put in place which was followed by an appeal to all the people to attend the Shirui Lily Festival without any sense of insecurity, an MST bus carrying media persons was stopped by security forces at Gwaltabi enroute to Ukhrul.

This action of the security forces was highly condemnable, he said.

The Congress party has taken serious note of the incident where security forces forced the words "Manipur State Transport" painted on the bus to be removed/covered up, Bhupenda said.

The Central Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the President's Rule Government are still unable to restore free movement in Manipur even though Article 19 of the Indian Constitution clearly lays down that every citizen can move freely in any part of the country.

The President's Rule imposed in the State has completed three months but it is unable to secure highways and roads for free movement including even MST buses, he said.

The MPCC spokesman asked how common people could move freely when even Government's buses cannot move freely within the State.

He went on to ask both the Government of India and the Governor how long they will take in enabling people to move freely within the State.

Bhupenda said that the President's Rule Government has failed the people of Manipur miserably.

He also urged the authority concerned to take up necessary legal action against all those people responsible for stopping the MST and keeping away the media persons from covering the opening ceremony of Shirui Lily Festival.

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