Proscribed outfit, the People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) Progressive, today commemorated the 49th Raising Day of its armed wing, the Red Army. In a message circulated on the occasion, the party’s chairman, Longjam Paliba M, paid tribute to those who had sacrificed their lives in what he described as efforts to safeguard the homeland amid ongoing conflict. He extended the party’s sympathy to families affected by injuries, disappearances, and other losses during the crisis, and expressed gratitude to volunteers and women whom he described as defending the motherland during these challenging times.
Paliba’s message emphasised that the current social and political situation in Manipur was indicative of wider societal decay. He linked the decline to the rise of ethnic conflicts, unemployment, weakened trust and coordination in communities, a lack of awareness regarding climate change, falling birth rates, and what he called a disengaged or “quiet quitting” work culture. In his view, these trends had fostered apathy and disengagement among the populace, which he said were reflected in popular phrases such as the Hindi word “Sordo,” the Chinese expression “Let It Rot: Bailan,” and the English idiom “Let It Be, Who Cares.”
According to Paliba, the country’s intellectual bureaucrats, particularly those he described as “obsessed with salary,” had abdicated responsibility for societal development. He claimed that such officials, including some non-indigenous bureaucrats in senior positions, were more focused on personal wealth and power than on nation-building. He reportedly argued that these elites had been educated and nurtured to pursue individual success rather than cultivate a sense of social responsibility, leaving them indifferent to the development of the nation or state.
The chairman stressed the importance of “dharma,” which he described not as a religious concept but as a self-righteous duty to society. He said that for Meitei people, dharma involved safeguarding the community from societal decline and resisting those perceived as covert or overt invaders. According to his message, every segment of society — including academics, doctors, farmers, workers, and bureaucrats — had an obligation to recognise the state’s economic dependence and to work collectively to address social and political challenges.
Paliba also drew on historical perspectives to highlight what he described as Manipur’s prior independence and clearly demarcated boundaries before its integration with India. He argued that the state had been gradually transformed into what he termed a “Land of invaders” after becoming part of India, and warned that Meitei politicians who followed the directives of central authorities without critical consideration risked subjecting the community to political subjugation. He cited examples of current state legislators, whom he described as “hopeless,” to illustrate the consequences of political compliance without vigilance.
The chairman criticised media outlets and organisations from mainland India, claiming they had spread false narratives to tarnish the Meitei community. He alleged that diaspora Meitei faced economic, cultural, and reputational challenges due to these campaigns. According to Paliba, the continued rule of what he described as incompetent, cowardly, and corrupt leaders had created conditions in which the Meitei risked losing their cultural and political identity.
The PREPAK (Pro) Chairman called upon insurgents and ordinary citizens alike to unite and resist perceived threats to the community. He framed such resistance as a collective dharma, urging coordinated action and engagement in what he described as a necessary People’s Movement. He emphasised that leadership should mobilise the public to address the root causes of societal challenges rather than relying on rhetoric alone.