Imphal: The sudden and arbitrary imposition of President’s Rule in Manipur by the Government of India, despite the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) holding an absolute majority in the state assembly, has been strongly condemned by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI). The organization has described the move as a deliberate attempt to plunge the state into further instability and chaos.
In a statement, COCOMI asserted that the decision raises grave concerns about the central government’s true motives. Rather than addressing the pressing issues affecting Manipur, the government appears to be shifting blame onto its own BJP legislators, accusing them of incompetence.
The organization highlighted the abrupt resignation of the Chief Minister in the middle of the night, just before a critical state assembly session, without any proper explanation to the public. COCOMI called this action a blatant violation of democratic norms and questioned whether the decision was made in the interest of the people or as part of a calculated scheme to exacerbate the crisis.
What has further alarmed the people of Manipur and the nation is the absence of an alternative leader to ensure a smooth transition of governance. This lack of preparedness suggests a deliberate power grab, aiming to place Manipur, particularly the Meetei community, under direct military control.
COCOMI also noted that the imposition of President’s Rule aligns suspiciously with the long-standing demands of Kuki militants and separatist groups advocating for the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) and central control over the state. The organization accused the BJP leadership of exploiting the ongoing crisis to fulfill the agenda of these groups, thereby compromising the rights and security of Manipur’s citizens.
Further criticizing the Manipur BJP legislators, COCOMI stated that their failure to propose a successor despite holding a majority exposes their true intent—placing personal gains above public welfare. This inaction, the organization argued, provided an excuse for the central leadership to intervene and impose President’s Rule under the pretense of a leadership vacuum. Rather than upholding democratic principles through an internal election, the legislators have surrendered their duties, becoming pawns in a larger political maneuver.
COCOMI condemned this undemocratic imposition as a breach of the Indian democratic fabric. The organization demanded an immediate and transparent process to elect a new leader and restore a democratically elected government without delay. Failure to do so, COCOMI warned, would hold every BJP legislator and leader in Manipur accountable for their political negligence and betrayal.
The civil society group called upon the people of Manipur to remain vigilant and united against any efforts to place the state under military subjugation. According to COCOMI, this crisis transcends political leadership—it concerns the future of Manipur and the preservation of its democratic rights. The people must rise collectively to resist this injustice and demand the swift restoration of a legitimate government.
