Why Are Meiteis Being Denied the Right to Worship at Thangjing Ching?

The denial of access to Thangjing Ching for Meitei pilgrims raises serious and urgent questions about religious freedom, state neutrality, and discriminatory governance in Manipur. Thangjing Ching is one of the most sacred sites of the Meitei. For generations, Meiteis have climbed this hill to offer prayers to God Thangjing on the day of Meitei new year. The hill holds a central place in their spiritual and cultural life. And yet, they are being told—by the very institutions meant to uphold constitutional rights—that their pilgrimage must wait.
This denial is not a result of natural calamity, nor of any pandemic restrictions. It is the outcome of a deliberate blockade enforced by armed Kuki groups. And more importantly, it is the result of the state’s refusal to intervene. This inaction is not mere administrative lethargy. It is a choice. A choice to allow one group to obstruct another’s right to religious practice. A choice to abandon neutrality. A choice to let intimidation dictate terms.
The irony becomes sharper when viewed in the national context. Every year, the Amarnath Yatra is organized in Jammu and Kashmir under tight security. Even in a region marked by insurgency and terrorism, the government spares no effort in deploying forces, securing roads, and airlifting pilgrims if needed. Special corridors are created, and top-level coordination between the central and state agencies ensures that the yatra is not interrupted. The Indian state takes pride in facilitating Hindu pilgrimage to Amarnath as a matter of national commitment. Why then is the same state silent when Meitei Hindus and Sanamahi followers are prevented from accessing their own sacred hill?
There is a visible double standard at work. The government’s reluctance to secure the path to Thangjing Ching shows that not all religious sentiments are treated equally. That not all citizens can expect the same protection for their beliefs. If the state can provide security to Amarnath pilgrims amid the threat of cross-border terrorism, why is it unable—or unwilling—to do the same in Manipur, where the threat is internal, known, and manageable?
By refusing to act, the government is not only violating the right to religious freedom enshrined in Article 25 of the Constitution. It is also legitimizing the authority of non-state actors to determine who can go where, who can worship, and who must stay away. This is a dangerous precedent. It means that armed groups, rather than courts or elected institutions, now control access to sacred spaces. It means that intimidation can now replace law.
The silence of the state government and the Governor—who is currently in charge of administration—only deepens the crisis. There has been no public assurance, no statement of intent to ensure access, no mobilization of central forces to reopen the pilgrimage route. Instead, what we witness is a quiet surrender of authority, cloaked in bureaucratic excuses about law and order.
What is at stake here is not only the right to worship. It is the basic idea of equal citizenship. The right to pray at Thangjing Ching is not a special privilege that Meiteis are demanding. It is a fundamental right. Denying it is not a matter of policy—it is a matter of injustice.
If the state cannot—or will not—protect that right, it must be held accountable. Silence cannot be allowed to replace justice. And fear must not be allowed to decide who may stand before their god.