Manipur People’s Convention Warns of Severing Ties if Centre Fails to Act on Rights and Dignity

Athouba also denounced the current President’s Rule, calling it a complete failure. “There is no effective governance, no return to normalcy.

The Manipur People’s Convention, organised by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), has issued a strong and unprecedented warning to the Central Government. The committee stated that if the rights, dignity, and safety of the people of Manipur are not upheld within a specific timeframe, they will be compelled to chart their own course, one that could permanently alter their relationship with the Indian state.

This powerful message formed the core of a resolution adopted during the Manipur People’s Convention held at Khuman Lampak on Saturday. Organised to mark the second anniversary of the ethnic violence that erupted on May 3, 2023, the event drew thousands of people who stood united under the sweltering sun to demand justice, security, and constitutional guarantees.

The resolution stated that a failure by the Centre to act meaningfully and within the stipulated timeframe would amount to “complete alienation and abandonment” of the people of Manipur. In such a scenario, the people resolved to initiate their own collective measures, which could fundamentally redefine their engagement with the Union government.

Furthermore, the resolution asserted that unless the demands passed at the convention are addressed with sincerity and urgency, the people will cease all cooperation with any agency or authority, except the Central government itself. It reaffirmed that the Centre has a constitutional and moral obligation to ensure the rights, safety, and territorial integrity of its citizens in Manipur—responsibilities that cannot be delegated, diluted, or ignored.

COCOMI Convenor Khuraijam Athouba, addressing the gathering, criticised the Central government’s continued silence on the Manipur crisis. “When the Centre reacts immediately to events elsewhere but remains silent on Manipur, it sends a message of neglect. Our people feel completely abandoned,” he said.

Athouba also denounced the imposition of President’s Rule, calling it a complete failure. “There is no effective governance, no return to normalcy. People continue to live in fear and uncertainty,” he added.

The convention adopted 11 major resolutions, including demands for relief and rehabilitation for farmers affected by the violence, identification and proper communication with the families of missing persons, welfare measures for internally displaced persons (IDPs), and urgent support for school-going children who have been deprived of education due to the ongoing conflict.

In a moment of solemn tribute, attendees laid floral offerings in memory of those who lost their lives since the violence broke out in 2023. The massive turnout reflected the pain, frustration, and unyielding resolve of the people.

Concluding his address, Athouba delivered a stern message: “If the Central government continues to ignore the ground reality, it will be making a grave mistake. Manipur will no longer accept being treated as a second-class state.”

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