Women increase the slogans during the protest outside the East DC Office in Imphal 28. | Photo Credit: PTI
Restoration of free movement for all communities along the national highways in manipur and relocation of internally displaced people “will take some time”, officials of the Ministry of the Ministry stated a delegation of groups of Civil Society at a meeting in the national capital. Officials “clearly stated” that “it cannot be achieved in a few months or several weeks”, the Meitei groups said at a press conference on Wednesday 28 May 2025), the day after the meeting.
Federation of civil society organizations (FOCS), coalition of groups of civil society based in Imphal from the Manipur’s Valley regions, met with the MHA team led by the Northeast Advisor AK Misra on the state bus on Tuesday afternoon (May 27, 2025).
“On Tuesday, there was a fruitful and constructive discussion on a number of questions with MHA officials. MHA clearly stated that the opening of national motorways, relocating internally displaced people, it will take some time. This cannot be achieved in a few months or several weeks.” At the press conference, Focus consultative member Puyam Rrakesh said.
“No specific timeline”
At a security security meeting on March 1 this year, the Minister of the Interior AMIT Shah ordered that from 8. March to move along the highways, which was blocked since the ethnic violence was released on May 3, 2023.
When the Focs delegation spoke on behalf of Mr. Rrakesh, “the Union government is reluctant to use excessive strength to re -open the highway” and added that MHA officials have not given any “specific timeline” when these problems such as free movement on the highway and relocating people can be solved. “We understand that these problems require time, but we have urged to deal with immediate concerns of displaced persons, care for their financial needs, care for medical needs and ensuring education for children,” he said.
“This was the message given to us by the Indian government. We are looking forward to the next rounds of interviews as well as the dialogue with the Kuki-Zo community, which will be very important for the restoration of normal and peace that I am manipur,” said Rrakesh. While the Focs agreed to participate in the KUKI-ZO community associations, the delegation of the Cocomi Coordination Committee (COCOMI), another Group of Meitei, who met independently with MHA officials, explained that it would “participate exclusively with the Indian government”.
Also read | Incident: Group Manipur announces civic disobedience
“Status Burns”
Focus made sense to notice that in the last few months there have been “specific steps” that the administration had taken since the president’s government, with the “successful de escalation”. However, Mr. Rrakesh indicated that the situation was deteriorating since the incident last week in Gwaltabi when the security forces tried to cover the word “manipur” on a state transport bus, which took journalists to the Ukrul Kopc district at the Shiri Lily Festival.
The incident “injured people from manipuro and the state is now burning again, and women and children are protesting on the streets,” Krashsh said. “This (incident) was perceived correctly or incorrectly as an attempt to dismantle the state manipur.”
Mr. Rrakes said that the MLA group met with the Governor of Manipure Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Wednesday afternoon to try to get their right to create a government in the state, “Welcome a popular government if she has political will to act in coordination with the center.
Incident Gwaltabi “deeply regret”
The ongoing protests in Imphal, which were part of the call of the “civil disobedience” issued by Cocomi, showed banners that said, “The president’s rule must stop offending manipuro integrity.”
On Wednesday, the Chief Secretary’s Office issued a manipur press release and explained that there were “no instructions or even remote thoughts to cover the name of the state as mentioned”. He added that the “reported undesirable incident” is treated with “maximum seriousness” and is “deeply regretted”, added that once the commission created by the governor submits its message, and “those who are responsible for forfeiture if they are identified, strict measures would be taken”.
‘Avoiding responsibility’
Mr. Rrakesh added that the Focs delegation also raised concerns about “seasoned policies” – including the Ministers of the Department of AMIT Shah, Jyotiraditya Scindia and Kiren Rijiju – commenting on “history or tradition” of ethnic conflicts. In the state it was “sending a message that normalizes violence”, said FOC delegate.
“We see that it is leaving responsibility, rather than taking responsibility for manipure problems. These narratives do nothing good for the state of the state. Such insensitive statements should be avoided,” he said.
Published – May 28, 2025 22:59
