logo
Protesters lock Central govt. offices in Manipur

Protesters lock Central govt. offices in Manipur

The Hindu27-05-2025
The civil disobedience campaign in Manipur's Imphal Valley intensified on Tuesday (May 27, 2025) with protesters fanning out to lock Central government offices.
The action was concentrated in the State's capital, Imphal, which straddles two of the five districts comprising the Valley.
The protest was announced by a Meitei organisation on May 24, alleging that the Central armed forces insulted the State's identity by masking the words 'Manipur State Transport' on a State-run bus on May 20. The protesters have been seeking Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla's apology for the incident.
Among the offices the protesters locked on Tuesday after overcoming resistance on the way from security personnel were the offices of the Geological Survey of India and the State's Chief Electoral Officer. One of the banners put up at these offices read: 'President's Rule must stop insulting Manipur's identity.'
Mr. Bhalla has been administering Manipur since the President's Rule was imposed on February 13, days after BJP leader N. Biren Singh resigned as the Chief Minister. He was a casualty of the ethnic conflict that broke out in the State on May 3, 2023, killing more than 250 people.
Governor's apology sought
The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), a Meitei organisation, had announced the civil disobedience movement after the expiry of a 48-hour deadline set for the Governor to apologise for the incident involving the bus carrying a team of media and State information officials from Imphal to cover the Shirui Lily Festival in the Naga-dominated Ukhrul district.
At a checkpoint about 25 km from Imphal, the Central armed forces allegedly made the passengers of the bus cover the words 'Manipur State Transport' displayed on the State-run bus. No reason was given, but Meitei organisations said the act 'undermined Manipur's identity, name, pride, and respect.'
Apart from continuing to seek an apology from Mr. Bhalla, the COCOMI-led protesters demanded the resignation of Chief Secretary P.K. Singh, Security Adviser Kuldiep Singh, and Director-General of Police Rajiv Singh, holding them responsible for the incident.
Also read | 48-hour bandh affects normal life in Manipur's Imphal Valley
Congress slams govt.
The Opposition Congress criticised the government over the incident. 'If we cannot use the word 'Manipur' within Manipur, where is our integrity? Who issued orders for the concealment of the signage? They should come out and apologise to the people of Manipur,' former Chief Minister and Congress leader Okram Ibobi Singh said.
He also said it was shameful that the Governor, the head of the State, could not travel seven km by road from Imphal's airport to the Raj Bhavan (lined by protesters) in the heart of the city on Monday and had to be airlifted. 'The incident indicates the total failure of the Centre because Manipur is now under the President's Rule,' he added.
Hundreds of protesters formed a human chain along the airport road on Monday in anticipation of the Governor's motorcade after his scheduled landing in a flight from New Delhi, where he attended an investment summit.
He was flown to the iconic Kangla Fort – Imphal's centrepiece – in an Army chopper to avoid the protesters. He travelled about 300 metres from the fort to the Raj Bhavan by road under tight security.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Congress councillors protest, seek removal of acting mayor
Congress councillors protest, seek removal of acting mayor

Time of India

time26 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Congress councillors protest, seek removal of acting mayor

Jaipur: Congress councillors staged a protest at Jaipur Municipal Corporation Heritage (JMC-H) Thursday demanding the removal of acting mayor Kusum Yadav and health deputy commissioner Devanand Sharma over an alleged land scam involving illegal lease allotments on govt land in Nehru Nagar Panipech. The councillors alleged that repeated appointments of acting mayors undermine democratic values and demanded immediate elections for the mayoral post. They criticised the BJP-led state govt for extending Yadav's tenure instead of taking strict action against her, despite recent developments in the case. Congress councillor Dashrath Singh Shekhawat said that lease deeds worth over Rs 100 crore were allegedly issued fraudulently. "Four officials were already suspended, including Kusum Yadav's OSD, Hansa Meena. This clearly indicates the mayor's involvement, yet the govt failed to act," he said. Shekhawat said this is the third time the govt appointed an acting mayor, even though the Congress holds a majority in JMC-H. "We demand that elections be held immediately so that a democratically elected representative can lead the civic body," he added. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Top 15 Most Beautiful Women in the World Undo Councillor Arvind Amethi accused BJP-backed officials of institutionalised corruption, claiming that officers are extorting money while political leaders protect them. "Today's peaceful rally was a warning. If our demands are not met, the Congress will launch a larger agitation in the coming days," he said. The councillors warned the govt that any further delay would lead to intensified protests for which the ruling party would be solely responsible.

T trying to break 50% quota cap, BJP a hindrance: Rahul
T trying to break 50% quota cap, BJP a hindrance: Rahul

Time of India

time26 minutes ago

  • Time of India

T trying to break 50% quota cap, BJP a hindrance: Rahul

Hyderabad: Leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday called on all Congress MPs to inform citizens about Telangana's caste survey and how the BJP was trying to "stall the state's progress". He said the Telangana govt was attempting to break free of the 50% cap on reservation, both in local bodies and in govt jobs and educational institutions. "Telangana chief minister Revanth Reddy's job is to use the data to transform the lives of the people of Telangana, and our job is to raise the issue in Parliament and help him push the idea of breaking the 50% reservation cap barrier," Rahul said while speaking during Revanth's presentation on the socio-economic survey at Indira Bhawan in New Delhi on Thursday. The PowerPoint presentation was attended by AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, MP Priyanka Gandhi, and many other top leaders of the Congress. Rahul said the Congress govt in Telangana had sent a note on the amendment to Parliament, both to the Govt of India and to the President of India. But, he alleged, the Centre was reluctant to take up the issue as if it would destroy BJP's brand of politics. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad He also remarked that the national census and caste census being taken up by the Centre would not be a fair exercise as it would reveal the real situation of OBCs and Adivasis. The Congress leader also said his party had been correctly raising Dalit and Adivasi issues nationally for more than a decade. He felt many of his own leaders may not agree with him, but more needed to be done on voicing concerns of the OBCs. Rahul also praised Revanth for completing the caste survey in Telangana. "When I started to push the idea of a caste census, I thought it would be difficult for Revanth as CM, as his community (Reddy) might not appreciate it. I was observing carefully. Today, I told the expert committee that Revanth Reddy ji and other leaders exceeded my expectations. They not only did the caste census, but did it exceptionally well," Rahul Gandhi said. He said they not only completed the survey, but also executed it in the right spirit, marking a milestone in social justice in the country. "The Telangana govt showed the country how the national caste census should be done. The census should not be conducted within closed rooms. Every section of society was taken into consideration, and every household was covered," the Congress leader said. The Telangana govt has 21st century data which is powerful enough to target the needy in executing education and health policies. No other state in the country has that data, and for obvious reasons, the BJP may not like it, he said.

TMC set to launch statewide stir over migrant 'persecution', special intensive revision
TMC set to launch statewide stir over migrant 'persecution', special intensive revision

Time of India

time30 minutes ago

  • Time of India

TMC set to launch statewide stir over migrant 'persecution', special intensive revision

(You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Kolkata: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee-led All India Trinamool Congress ( AITC ) has chalked out a multi-pronged strategy to take up the issues of the alleged persecution, detention and deportation of Bengali-speaking people in BJP-ruled states and the special intensive revision ( SIR ) of electoral rolls in Parliament and outside in the run-up to the 2026 assembly election Party MPs have raised these issues in Parliament, demanding discussion on the alleged targeting of Bengali-speaking migrants and on the on July 27, the party plans to hold protests in Kolkata and all other districts of West Bengal. led by the CM and involving ministers, MPs, MLAs and party workers down to the grassroot levels.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store