GUWAHATI, May 24: Manipur has erupted into a coordinated and statewide mass agitation after the expiry of a 48-hour ultimatum demanding an apology from the Governor for what many see as an attack on the state’s core identity. The restriction on using the name “Manipur” on MST buses during the Shirui Festival on May 20 — an act that COCOMI and civil society call an outrageous insult.

With no apology forthcoming, COCOMI (Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity) has announced a full-scale public boycott of the Governor, beginning May 25. The campaign, according to COCOMI IPR Convenor Laikhuram Jayenta, will include mass protests, torch rallies, civil disobedience, and cultural resistance across the state.

“No individual or organization shall invite, attend, or host any event involving the Governor until a public apology is issued,” said Jayenta. “This is not merely symbolic. It’s a declaration that the people of Manipur will not tolerate the erosion of our identity.”

COCOMI also launched a non-cooperation movement against the President’s Rule (PR) administration, urging the public to cease all engagement with Central government offices that have “consistently undermined the dignity of the state.”

Exceptions include essential services such as education, healthcare, banking, postal, and sports sectors.

The organization has also demanded the immediate resignation of the state’s top administrative officials — the Security Advisor, Director General of Police (DGP), and Chief Secretary — accusing them of gross failure and silence in the face of administrative overreach.

Furthermore, COCOMI rejected the current administrative inquiry committee, demanding instead the formation of an independent committee led by a retired High Court or Sessions Judge.

“This isn’t just about buses or festivals,” said Jayenta. “This is about the larger pattern of alienation, of governance surrendering to narco-terror threats, and of systematic erasure of Manipur’s soul under the guise of central control.”

Mass sit-ins and demonstrations at strategic points including Raj Bhavan, PR offices, Central offices, and district headquarters

Community-led campaigns using door-to-door outreach, loudspeaker mobilization, and cultural expressions such as performances and traditional dress to assert Manipuri identity
Women’s groups, student bodies, and civil society organizations will play key roles in mobilizing public sentiment, turning the agitation into what COCOMI calls a “people’s movement of cultural resistance.”

“This Is not just protest — it’s a line in the sand,” the statement said.

“We are not protesting peace. We are protesting the surrender of our governance,” said Jayenta. “‘Manipur’ is not a negotiable term. It is our name, our soul, our heritage. We shall defend it — united, unwavering, and until justice prevails.”

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