Students march in Manipur’s Churachandpur against move to form popular government

Thousands of students on Tuesday took out a march in Manipur’s Churachandpur district to protest against attempts to form a popular government in the state, which remains under President’s Rule. 

The demonstration was organised under the banner of the Joint Students’ Organisation of Churachandpur.

The protest march began from the 1st Students of Churachandpur campus at Tuibong and covered a distance of nearly two kilometres. Students raised slogans opposing the formation of a popular government at this stage and demanded the continuation of President’s Rule until a lasting peace is restored in the state. Placards carried by the protesters read “no solution, no rest”.

Student leaders submitted a memorandum addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi through the district authorities, urging the Centre not to move towards the installation of a popular government in Manipur without a political solution to the ongoing crisis. The memorandum stressed that any such move without addressing core issues would further aggravate the situation.

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The students pointed out that since ethnic violence broke out in Manipur in May 2023, more than 260 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless. Many members of the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities continue to live in relief camps and are unable to return to their homes due to the prevailing insecurity.

Manipur was placed under President’s Rule after Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned last year, and the state assembly, which has a tenure till 2027, has been kept under suspended animation. The demonstrators said the administrative situation on the ground remains fragile, with frequent breakdowns of law and order, and asserted that peace and normalcy must precede any political transition.

The protest concluded peacefully, with students reiterating their demand for a comprehensive political solution and sustained central intervention to restore trust, security and stability in the violence-hit state.