Imphal: The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) on Tuesday criticised MLA Thongam Bishwajit Singh and MLA Thongam Basanta Kumar Singh for attending the inaugural ceremony of the Sangai Festival 2025, despite strong public objections.
In a statement, COCOMI, one of the valley’s most influential civil society organisations, said the decision of the two MLAs to participate in the event—held amid ongoing hardships faced by internally displaced persons (IDPs)—had hurt public sentiment. The group noted that IDPs and several citizens had been calling for the festival to be deferred, arguing that the current situation in the state is not conducive to celebrations.
According to COCOMI, widespread protests took place across Manipur on November 21, the opening day of the festival. Several individuals reportedly sustained injuries during clashes as security forces attempted to disperse demonstrators. The committee alleged that the government pushed ahead with the inaugural ceremony “by using force to suppress the protest”.
COCOMI said that by attending the ceremony, the two MLAs had acted “in defiance of public sentiment”, adding that their participation showed a lack of empathy and responsibility expected from elected representatives during a period of distress.
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The committee further appealed to the people of Thonju and Nambol assembly constituencies—represented by Bishwajit and Basanta Kumar respectively—to collectively deliberate on the actions of their legislators and address any misunderstandings. COCOMI warned that when elected representatives openly disregard the concerns of the public, “it renders democracy meaningless”.
The Sangai Festival 2025 was inaugurated by Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on November 21 in Imphal. Unlike previous editions, which typically draw huge crowds, this year’s opening ceremony recorded a significantly lower turnout amid ongoing agitation by IDPs.
Also Read | Wrong priorities: Manipur residents are angry with Sangai Festival