Imphal, Manipur – May 27, 2025 – Political tensions in Manipur escalated this week after Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla opted to travel 7 km by helicopter instead of road, to avoid direct confrontation with protestors demonstrating over a recent identity-related controversy. The move has drawn criticism and deepened the state’s ongoing crisis.
The unrest in Manipur began following the removal of the words “Manipur State” from a government bus carrying journalists to the Shirui Lily Festival in Ukhrul district. Central security forces allegedly ordered the removal, prompting widespread backlash from civil society groups, students, and women’s organizations across the state.
In response, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) called for a 48-hour general strike and demanded an apology from the Governor. Protestors, forming human chains and staging sit-ins across Manipur, accused the central government of undermining the state’s territorial and political identity.
As tension mounted, Governor Bhalla’s decision to use an air route instead of the traditional road path to reach the Raj Bhavan in Imphal was viewed as a symbolic refusal to engage with the people of Manipur. “The Governor has avoided the people. It’s clear he’s in the wrong,” said RK Tharaksana, convener of COCOMI’s women’s wing.
Security forces in Manipur were deployed in large numbers across Imphal West and Imphal East districts to maintain order, while local markets and transportation services remained disrupted due to the strike.
The political climate in Manipur has remained volatile since the resignation of former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh in February 2025, which led to the imposition of President’s Rule. With no elected government and escalating civil unrest, calls for the protection of Manipur’s cultural identity and autonomy are growing louder.
COCOMI has dispatched a delegation to New Delhi to present the concerns of the people of Manipur to the Ministry of Home Affairs. The delegation seeks clarity on the state’s administrative autonomy and cultural status, particularly in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor and other federal interventions.
As protests continue and dialogue remains uncertain, Manipur stands at a crossroads — facing both internal upheaval and concerns over federal overreach.
Read more: Jyoti Malhotra, Espionage & Guns: Scottish YouTuber Recounts Frightening Meeting in Pakistan
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