Manipur Is ‘Indivisible’: Meitei Civil Society Groups Present Unyielding Stand to MHA Amid Ongoing Crisis
New Delhi/Imphal — In a firm and coordinated move, two prominent Meitei civil society groups — the Coordination Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) and the Federation of Civil Society (FOCS) — on Tuesday conveyed to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) that Manipur "was, is, and shall always remain an indivisible entity", rejecting any narrative that seeks to divide the conflict-hit state.
The statements were made during high-level discussions held in New Delhi with MHA’s North-East Advisor A.K. Mishra, who led back-to-back meetings with both delegations — each lasting nearly two hours — as part of the Centre’s continued outreach amidst the deepening crisis in Manipur.
COCOMI: Centre Must Escalate Public Resolutions
Led by convener Khuraijam Athouba, the COCOMI delegation emphasized the outcomes of the Manipur People’s Convention held on May 3, calling for the Union government to take formal cognizance of the people’s resolutions. According to a statement released after the meeting, COCOMI urged the Centre to “acknowledge the public mandate and escalate the resolution to the highest levels of the Government of India.”
The resolutions included:
- A declaration that Manipur remains indivisible;
- A strong indictment of the Union government for allegedly "wilfully neglecting or strategically prolonging" the crisis;
- A rejection of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s characterization of the violence as an ethnic conflict;
- A demand that the Union government formally accept responsibility for its role in the prolonged unrest.
Gwaltabi Incident Triggers Protests
COCOMI also raised concerns over an incident last week in Gwaltabi, where a state-run bus carrying journalists to Ukhrul for the Shirui Lily festival was forced to cover the word ‘Manipur’. The MHA reportedly took note of the incident and assured the delegation that the matter would be acted upon.
The episode has sparked outrage across Imphal, triggering spontaneous protests over what many Meitei groups see as a symbolic attack on the state’s identity.
FOCS: Rejecting Outdated Moral Framing
In a parallel meeting, the Federation of Civil Society (FOCS), led by President B.M. Yaima Shah, called on the Union government to move beyond what it termed an “outdated moral lens” still being used to assess the situation in Manipur.
According to FOCS, officials continue to see the Kuki-Zo communities as passive victims, even though the crisis has evolved into a “militarised, complex conflict”. It warned that persisting with such framing would be a strategic miscalculation, risking further violence.
“If this outdated framing persists, it will signal a dangerous misjudgement… and enable further violence through inaction or miscalculated restraint,” said the group in its statement.
Need for Principled Response to Kuki-Zo Demands
FOCS criticized the Union government’s current strategy of denying the Kuki-Zo demand for a separate administration based only on administrative inconvenience or feasibility. The group argued that such an approach lacks moral clarity and risks alienating both Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities further.
Instead, FOCS urged the government to adopt a “principled stance” that reaffirms Manipur’s indivisible historical identity and offers moral reassurance to all stakeholders.
COCOMI Reaffirms Exclusive Engagement With Centre
In its closing note, COCOMI clarified that it would engage only with the Government of India on crisis-related issues, categorically rejecting the legitimacy of the Suspension of Operation (SoO) groups of the Kuki-Zo communities. The committee also reiterated its opposition to narco-terrorism and armed insurgents.
Both civil society groups flagged urgent issues for intervention, including:
- Safe return of displaced persons;
- Justice for the missing;
- Compensation and grievance redressal for affected families.
What Lies Ahead
While no major policy shift was announced, both sides reportedly agreed to continue dialogue and maintain communication, with a shared objective of restoring peace and stability in Manipur.
“There is growing anger in Imphal about the way the state is being run under President’s Rule,” said Mr. Athouba to The Hindu prior to the meeting. “A popular government with majority support must be reinstated — leadership is not the issue.”
As the crisis continues to simmer, Tuesday’s meetings underscore the increasing pressure on the Centre to act decisively and demonstrate leadership in a region that has remained on edge for nearly a year.