Calls For Probe Rise After State Title On Manipur Authorities Bus Pressured To Be Lined
Journalists from Imphal valley turned again halfway whereas going to Ukhrul district to attend the state-level Shirui Lily Competition after the safety forces coated the phrase ‘Manipur’ on the windshield of a state-run bus wherein they have been travelling.
The journalists shared visuals exhibiting some folks overlaying the title of the state on the windshield with tape and paper. They protested in opposition to the act, and questioned why the title of the state cannot be seen.
The bus chartered by the Division of Info and Public Relations (DIPR) needed to move via some villages the place the Kuki tribes are dominant whereas going to Ukhrul district, the picturesque venue of the Shirui Lily Competition themed on the state’s uncommon flower.
Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla delivered an deal with on the competition’s inauguration on Tuesday; it’ll finish on Might 24.
Governor of Manipur, Shri Ajay Kumar Bhalla, inaugurated the fifth Shirui Lily Competition 2025 at Shirui village, Ukhrul, celebrating the uncommon and fragile Shirui Lily – an emblem of Manipur’s pure heritage.
Earlier within the day, the Governor trekked to the scenic Shirui peak, 1/2 pic.twitter.com/ZzmB1CtFS7
— RAJ BHAVAN MANIPUR (@RajBhavManipur) Might 20, 2025
The Kuki tribes have objected to members of the Meitei neighborhood from Imphal valley passing via the tribes’ villages. The Kukis have been demanding a separate administration carved out of Manipur.
In line with some volunteers of the competition who’re serving to commuters going to Ukhrul, there was concern about potential assaults by anti-social parts on members of the Meitei neighborhood at some remoted stretches of the freeway.
Manipur is underneath the President’s rule, and the state meeting is underneath suspended animation. The authorities have assured they would supply safety to people who find themselves visiting the Shirui Lily Competition.
Two media our bodies in Manipur in a joint letter to the Governor requested for an investigation into what went improper.
“This incident has triggered critical questions concerning freedom of the press, public security, and the prevailing safety atmosphere within the area, together with the difficulty of who’s governing the state: the state authorities or the central safety forces. Media personnel have referred to as for readability from the authorities concerning the rationale behind the instruction, particularly given the state-backed nature of the journey,” Editors’ Guild of Manipur secretary common Yumnam Rupachandra and All Manipur Working Journalists Union common secretary Khwairakpam Naoba stated within the letter to the Governor.
The media associations stated all information corporations will maintain a pen-down strike on Wednesday, and will prolong it if swift motion will not be taken in opposition to these chargeable for the lapse.
Former chief minister N Biren Singh and different leaders slicing throughout get together strains together with Govindas Konthoujam, Rajkumar Imo Singh, and state Congress chief Keisham Meghachandra Singh strongly condemned the act of forcing to cowl the phrase ‘Manipur’ on the DIPR bus. They referred to as the act unlawful and against the law in opposition to the Structure.
“Manipur will not be a query – it’s a proud state of the Indian Union. Forcing the elimination of – ‘Manipur’ and the ‘MN’ registration plate from our personal state run Manipur State Street Transport Company (MSRTC) bus carrying DIPR journalists en path to the Shirui Lily Competition, is a shame to the nation,” seven-time Bishnupur BJP MLA Govindas Konthoujam stated in a submit on X.
“This act will not be self-discipline – it’s a harmful deviation, an assault on our id, and against the law in opposition to the Structure, dedicated inside our personal land. It’s not simply an insult to Manipur – it’s an assault on the Indian Union itself. Such shameful harassment and defilement of Manipur’s title is past unacceptable. Justice should prevail. An instantaneous high-level enquiry committee should be constituted to punish these accountable as per the regulation of the land,” Mr Konthoujam stated.
Such shameful harassment and defilement of Manipur’s title is past unacceptable.
Justice should prevail.
An instantaneous Excessive-Stage Enquiry Committee should be constituted to punish these accountable as per the regulation of the land.— Govindas Konthoujam (@KonthoujamG) Might 20, 2025
One other BJP MLA, Rajkumar Imo Singh, stated the act of overlaying the state’s title was “completely unjustified, unacceptable and a violation of the authority of the state.”
“… I’m hopeful that the Governor will be certain that strict motion is taken in opposition to the folks concerned,” Mr Imo stated.
I fail to grasp the explanation behind such an order to take away the Manipur title from the State transport bus carrying the media on their method to Ukhrul. It was completely unjustified, unacceptable and violation of the authority of the State. Strict motion must be taken in opposition to…
— Rajkumar Imo Singh (@imosingh) Might 20, 2025
Manipur Congress chief Keisham Meghachandra Singh questioned the state administration for what he claimed was “failing to make sure free motion within the state”.
Eradicating the title ‘Manipur’ from Manipur State Trasnsport Company bus, which carried journalists sponsored by DIPR Govt of Manipur, and obstruction given by safety forces is a fee of felony acts. Regulation should prevail over them.
The satisfaction of Manipur – “Shirui…
— Keisham Meghachandra Singh (@meghachandra_k) Might 20, 2025
The previous chief minister referred to as for motion and accountability.
“Manipur da Manipur thaba yaroi (you may’t write ‘Manipur’ in Manipur). The place are we headed? Whoever is behind this shameful act should be held accountable. I stand firmly with the media fraternity and the folks of Manipur,” Mr Singh stated in a submit on X.
“Manipur da Manipur thaba yaroi.”
The place are we headed? Whoever is behind this shameful act should be held accountable. I stand firmly with the media fraternity and the folks of Manipur.
— N. Biren Singh (@NBirenSingh) Might 20, 2025
The inaugural ceremony of the Shirui Lily Competition was held at Heritage Floor in Ukhrul district’s Vangayan village. The Shirui lily – a uncommon, pinkish-white flower – is endemic to the Shirui hill vary in Ukhrul, residence of the Tangkhul Naga tribe. It’s also the state flower.
The Manipur Police have stated threats to members of the Meitei neighborhood to not move by Kuki-dominant villages have been made by fictitious organisations – Kuki-Zo Village Volunteers Jap Zone, and Kuki-Zoland Safety Command.
The group ‘Kuki Zo Village Volunteer – Jap Zone’ doesn’t share the identical title because the ‘Village Volunteers Jap Zone’, or VVEZ, which exists.
Whereas the VVEZ has not given an announcement on the Shirui Lily Competition, earlier on March 8, the deadline set by the Governor to give up illegally held and looted weapons, the VVEZ printed a video assertion – seven of its masked members in camouflage and carrying AK sequence and different assault rifles – asserting they won’t lay down arms till their demand for a separate administration was met.
The clashes between the Meitei neighborhood and the almost two dozen tribes generally known as Kuki, who’re dominant in some hill areas of Manipur, have killed over 260 folks and internally displaced almost 40,000.
