Congress leader and former Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh has strongly criticized the state and central government and described the ongoing crisis in Manipur as a complete failure of the government. His remarks came a day after the Indian Army was taken by helicopter due to heavy protests to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, which was unable to cover a distance of only seven kilometers from Imphal Airport to Raj Bhavan. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday during a wreath ceremony at Congress Bhavan in Imphal on the occasion of the 61st death anniversary of India’s first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Ibobi demanded Manipur Governor, Security Advisor, Chief Secretary and Director General of Police (DGP) to publicly apologize.
Also read: Three militants arrested in forcible recovery activities in Manipur arrested
He said that according to our assessment, it is a complete failure of the Government of India, especially the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Governor, being the constitutional head of the state, is effectively working under the Rights of the President of India. Highlighting the incident, Ibobi said that due to the protest of the Governor, he could not even travel seven kilometers from Imphal Airport to Raj Bhavan and had to take him by air. He described it as a symbol of deteriorating law and order in the state. Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla was forced to go by air to avoid mass protests organized by the Coordination Committee (COCCOMI) on Manipur Integrity. The protests demanded publicly apologizing from the Governor and immediate resignation or transfer of Chief Secretary, Security Advisor and DGP.
Also read: Four militants arrested in Manipur, accused of forcibly recovering
The anger of the people stems from the May 20 incident, with central security personnel allegedly stopped a bus of Manipur State Transport, carrying journalists at the Shirui Lily Festival in Ukhul and ordered to remove the word “Manipur” from his signage – this step was widely condemned as an insult to the state identity. Ibobi also condemned the recent reports that said that the word “Manipur” was removed from state transport buses by security personnel.