Former Minister Dr. Khumujam Ratankumar, also a member of the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC), has stated that the protection of lives and property is the fundamental responsibility of any government. However, in Manipur, people are now restricted from using the two national highways that serve as the state’s lifeline, connecting it with the rest of India, he said.
Speaking at an interaction programme organised by the Mayang Imphal Kendra Development Committee at the residence of Thongam Girani in Sekmaijin Thongam on Sunday, Dr. Ratankumar expressed concern over the deteriorating situation in the state.
“People of Manipur are fully aware of what is happening in the state. We are living through a time when it is no longer safe even in our own land,” he remarked.
Referring to the recent controversy during the Shirui Lily Festival, the former Minister strongly condemned the reported action of Indian Army personnel who allegedly forced journalists to remove a ‘Manipur State Transport’ (MST) label from a government bus.
“Journalists travelling to cover the Shirui Lily Festival were reportedly stopped, and the MST label was forcibly removed by the Indian Army. This act, seemingly aimed at erasing Manipur’s identity, reflects a deeper and more troubling agenda,” he said.
Dr. Ratankumar added that such incidents expose the larger plan behind recent events and that the people of Manipur must remain vigilant in protecting their identity and rights.