COCOMI condemns President’s Rule in Manipur, calls it betrayal of "democracy"

The Coordination Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has strongly condemned the Government of India’s decision to impose President’s Rule in the state, calling it an undemocratic and unjustified move that could further destabilize Manipur.

COCOMI has questioned the timing and intent behind the sudden dismissal of the BJP-led government, despite the party holding an absolute majority. "Instead of addressing the real issues, the central government has chosen to blame its own BJP MLAs for incompetence. This raises serious doubts about their true intentions," the organization stated.

The forced resignation of Chief Minister N Biren Singh in the dead of night, just before a crucial assembly session, without any explanation to the people, was labelled an outright betrayal of democratic principles. COCOMI asked whether this decision was made for the welfare of Manipur or was a calculated move to deepen the crisis.

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The group further alleged that this move aligns with the demands of Kuki militants and separatist groups pushing for AFSPA and President’s Rule. They expressed concerns that the decision would place Manipur—particularly the Meetei community—under direct military control, leading to a loss of democratic rights and autonomy.

COCOMI also criticized Manipur BJP legislators for failing to propose an alternative leader, despite their majority, calling their inaction a deliberate surrender to central interference. "Instead of conducting an internal election to elect a new leader, they have become pawns in a larger political game, selling out the people of Manipur for personal gains," the statement read.

Calling the imposition of the President’s Rule unacceptable, COCOMI has demanded an immediate and time-bound process to elect a new Chief Minister and restore a democratic government. They warned that failure to do so would make every BJP MLA directly accountable for the political instability in Manipur.

"This crisis is not just about leadership—it is about the survival of Manipur’s democratic rights. The people must rise against this injustice and demand the immediate restoration of a legitimate government," COCOMI asserted.