The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has appealed to people across the Manipur not to implement the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign in Manipur, citing the prolonged conflict, displacement and alleged denial of basic rights to the people of the State.
In a statement, COCOMI stated that since May 3, 2023, many innocent people have lost their lives in the ongoing conflict, while thousands who remain unable to return home continue to live as internally displaced persons (IDPs) in relief camps.
The COCOMI questioned the move to promote the hoisting of the national flag at every household in Manipur at a time when, it claimed, people continue to live amid insecurity and displacement.
COCOMI alleged that Meitei people remain unable to travel freely along the National Highways and are also unable to cultivate or work on agricultural land located in the hills and other conflict-affected areas.
The COCOMI further claimed that the Meitei community has been forced to protect itself for more than three years amid attacks and displacement, alleging that civilians and villagers have been compelled to take up arms for self-defence.
According to COCOMI, the continuing incidents in the State reflect the gravity of the situation and demonstrate that normal life has yet to be restored.
The COCOMI alleged that people in Manipur continue to live in fear and under severe restrictions, with their fundamental rights as Indian citizens being compromised.
COCOMI stated that it had repeatedly approached both the State and Central Governments over the past three years, urging them to take concrete measures to resolve the conflict and restore normalcy.
However, it alleged that despite repeated appeals, decisive action had not been taken and that measures adopted by the governments had instead further complicated the situation.
COCOMI also alleged that the prolonged conflict was being allowed to continue as part of what it described as a “proxy war” and questioned why a concrete solution had not yet been found.
Against this backdrop, COCOMI questioned whether the national flag should be hoisted in Manipur under the present circumstances, particularly when thousands of IDPs continue to suffer.
The COCOMI ultimately appealed to the people to hoist black flags as a mark of protest against the prevailing situation in Manipur.