Conflict continues in Manipur: Meiteis call for total boycott of BJP
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Imphal: In Manipur, a group of Meitei civil society organisations has called for a complete boycott of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing the government of failing to protect civilians amid ongoing violence.
The decision was announced by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), a collective representing Meitei civil society groups. The organisation has urged the public to refrain from participating in any BJP programmes or activities, signalling a deepening rupture between sections of civil society and the ruling establishment.
COCOMI sharply criticised Chief Minister N Biren Singh, demanding that he explain why the government has been unable to prevent repeated attacks on civilians. In a scathing statement, senior COCOMI member Shanta Nahakpam alleged that the Chief Minister has become disconnected from civil society and is operating in isolation, while “drug mafias and terrorists roam freely killing innocent people.”
He further accused both the current and previous governments of failing to provide answers or accountability for the ongoing violence, justifying the call for a total boycott of BJP activities in the state.
The political backlash comes amid fresh unrest and multiple protest actions across Manipur. The United Naga Council has announced a three-day shutdown in Naga-inhabited areas from midnight April 20 to midnight April 23, protesting the killing of two individuals. This bandh adds another layer of instability to an already volatile situation.
Simultaneously, Meitei groups and civil society organisations are continuing a five-day shutdown over a brutal attack in Bishnupur district. In the village of Tronglaobi, a bomb attack on April 7 targeted a residential home, killing a five-year-old child and a five-month-old infant. The attack, reportedly launched from nearby hill areas dominated by Kuki-Zo groups, has intensified ethnic tensions and public outrage.
Protesters have demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible and justice for the victims, while accusing the state government of failing to ensure even basic security for its citizens.
