Anatomy of Irresponsibility: CM’s Admission of No Intelligence Input for 15 Months

Manipur’s prolonged crisis has brought into sharp focus not just the humanitarian tragedy but also a breakdown of governance and accountability at the state level. At a time when clear leadership and decisive action are imperative, statements by the Chief Minister—particularly his admission that he has not received any intelligence inputs for 15 months—raise serious questions about the functioning of the state’s Home Department, which he himself heads.
This admission is both shocking and concerning. If the Chief Minister, who oversees the state’s home portfolio, claims that critical intelligence has not reached him for over a year, it reveals a troubling disconnect within the state’s administrative machinery. It is unfathomable that a state grappling with widespread violence and instability could suffer such lapses in communication. The absence of timely intelligence speaks to a collapse of systems that are meant to safeguard the lives and security of citizens.
Manipur’s conflict—complex as it may be—cannot justify the sheer failure of leadership and institutional processes. The Home Department, which is tasked with maintaining law and order, depends on robust intelligence networks to anticipate, manage, and contain security challenges. If these channels have indeed failed, or if inputs have been deliberately withheld, who is responsible for this alarming lapse? Is it the state police, central intelligence agencies, or another shadowy inefficiency that remains unacknowledged? Whatever the answer, the people of Manipur deserve a clear explanation.
The Chief Minister’s statement raises an even more troubling question: Is the state’s leadership in control of its own apparatus? If the Chief Minister heading the Home Department cannot access critical intelligence reports, it reflects not just administrative failure but also a dangerous erosion of the very institutions responsible for governance. Security agencies and the state government must function in lockstep, especially during crises, but the Chief Minister’s admission exposes a rift—one that is costly for both public safety and public trust.
Adding to the confusion is the lack of accountability and clarity from both the Centre and the State. In any functioning democracy, transparency and communication are crucial in times of turmoil. Instead, the people of Manipur have been met with inconsistent explanations, shifting narratives, and now, startling admissions of incompetence. Such confusions not only deepen public despair but also create an environment of distrust in the state’s ability to address its most urgent challenges.
This breakdown comes at an immense human cost. Thousands of people have been displaced, lives have been lost, and entire communities have been left fractured and vulnerable. In the face of this suffering, the government’s primary responsibility must be to restore law and order, rebuild public confidence, and ensure that institutions tasked with protecting the state function with precision and urgency. However, when the head of the state’s Home Department openly admits to being cut off from intelligence reports, it is clear that the system is failing those it is meant to protect.
Moreover, this is not just about an administrative lapse—it is about a failure of leadership. A Chief Minister heading a critical department cannot distance himself from the state of affairs. The onus of ensuring that intelligence flows efficiently lies squarely at the top. Leaders are expected to take charge, identify systemic failures, and act decisively to fix them. Claiming ignorance or citing institutional dysfunction does little to absolve responsibility, particularly when the stakes are so high.
The situation in Manipur demands immediate introspection and reform. First, there must be a thorough investigation into why intelligence inputs have not reached the Chief Minister. If systems have broken down, they must be rebuilt immediately. If agencies have failed, those responsible must be held accountable. Second, there must be greater transparency in governance. The people of Manipur are living through an unprecedented crisis, and they deserve answers—not vague admissions or shifting blame.
The state leadership must also acknowledge that violence and unrest cannot be addressed without functioning institutions. Security cannot be ensured without actionable intelligence, and peace cannot be restored without accountability. The first step toward rebuilding trust is to take responsibility—not just for failures but also for the path forward.
Ultimately, the Chief Minister’s admission reflects a broader failure of governance in Manipur. At a time when the state requires stability, the absence of effective leadership and institutional clarity is deeply troubling. The government—both at the state and central levels—must recognize the gravity of the situation and act swiftly to restore the confidence of the people. The people of Manipur have endured enough. They deserve a government that is accountable, responsive, and capable of delivering peace. Anything less is a betrayal of the very principles of governance.