SAVE MANIPUR RALLY MARKS A TURNING POINT AS PEOPLE SPEAK FOR UNITY, PEACE AND INTEGRITY

Imphal: In a significant shift in Manipur’s troubled public mood, thousands of people from across the valley came together on Sunday under a single banner and a single resolve: the protection of Manipur’s unity and the restoration of peace. Responding to the call for Manipur Kanba Khongchat or the Save Manipur Public Rally, spearheaded by the Coordinating Committee for Manipur (COCOMI), the streets of Imphal bore witness to a collective voice that was firm, inclusive and strikingly reconciliatory.

Participants from diverse communities—Meiteis, Muslims, various tribal groups, along with Jains, Punjabis, Marwaris, Bengalis and Assamese—marched in their thousands from Tiddim Ground to Thou Ground, covering nearly five kilometres. The slogans that echoed along the route—“Do Not Balkanize Manipur,” “No Compromise on Manipur’s Integrity,” “Stop Proxy War,” and “Long Live Manipur”—were not aimed at any community, but squarely at policies and powers perceived to be prolonging the state’s agony.

COCOMI leaders said the rally was meant to send a clear and united message against what they allege is a well-orchestrated attempt to fragment Manipur through a prolonged proxy conflict.

Former COCOMI coordinator Khuraijam Athouba said the people of Manipur have arrived at a hard-earned clarity after more than two-and-a-half years of unrest.

“This is not a mere ethnic conflict between two communities,” he said. “It is a well-engineered, well-managed crisis, deliberately asserted by certain government agencies and their proxies. This rally is to tell the Government of India that enough is enough. This crisis must not be allowed to continue.” He added that the rally was meant to assert a “firm and clear stand” demanding a change in what COCOMI describes as a policy of proxy war against the people of Manipur.

Former COCOMI Coordinator Khuraijam Athouba

The procession moved through Imphal Airport Road, Keishampat Junction, Waheng Leikai Road running parallel to the Nambul River, passing Nagamapal and Khuyathong before concluding at Thou Ground in Thangmeiband, near the NCC Manipur parade ground. A large public meeting followed, where several resolutions are expected to be adopted to pursue political pressure on the Government of India.

Adding weight to the rally, Dronacharya Awardee Laishram Ibomcha Singh, coach of boxing icon Mary Kom, stressed the importance of unity at this juncture.

“This is an extremely significant rally for the people of Manipur,” he said. “All communities should participate. It is about protecting the integrity of the state.”

Dronacharya Awardee Laishram Ibomcha Singh

Ima Nganbi, a prominent woman human rights activist, voiced the depth of public anguish while reiterating the seriousness of the moment.

“We have done many demonstrations in the past, but the Government of India has not listened,” she said. “Do not betray us. We are not afraid of dying for the protection of Manipur.”

Ima Nganbi, prominent human rights activist of Manipur

At the same time, the rally carried unmistakable signals of harmony and coexistence. A representative of Jain Samaj Manipur, participating in the march, emphasised peace and shared belonging.

“We are born, brought up and live in Manipur. We want a united Manipur,” the representative said. “All communities should live happily and harmoniously together. This is why we are supporting this rally.”

Representative from Jain Samaj Manipur dropping his thoughts on the rally

Most significant, however, was the overall tone that defined the day. Unlike earlier phases of the conflict, when anger, frustration and name calling were often directed at the warring communities, Sunday’s rally reflected a decisive change. The slogans, speeches and sentiments were directed at governments and policies. There were no visible hate sloganeering and rhetoric even during the public meeting.

Instead, the rally revealed a collective fatigue with violence, a rejection of division, and a growing yearning for reconciliation and peace. In its scale and spirit, with over a lakh participation, the Save Manipur rally stood less as an outburst of anger and more as a public declaration: that the people of Manipur, having endured long enough, now seek unity over enmity and peace over prolonged conflict—without surrendering an inch of their state’s integrity.