Showcasing Sangai Fest as a facade od normalcy in Manipur
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Brigadier (Retired) L Ibotombi Singh
More than NINE months have gone by since imposition of President’s Rule, however no significant changes have come about on ground, except for show-casing of festivals and reduction in frequency of bandhs which was more pronounced earlier. Apparently, the bandhs which were frequent earlier were politically motivated to impose President’s Rule in the State, citing breakdown in law and order. The ground reality as on date is the divide between the Hills and Plains continue, with Meitei and Kuki communities confining in their area of influences.
It remained a distant dream for balance of 60,000 internally displaced peoples (IDPs) to return to their original settlements. The people in the valley viz. Meitei community are confined in appx. 300 sq. km stretching from Shantipur to Kwakta (North to South) and Yangapokpi to Kouktruk (East to West) as there is a strict prohibition citing law and order for travel by the valley people to other parts of Manipur. Likewise, Kuki-Zo people cannot travel in the valley or go from North to South or East to West via Imphal valley because of continuing mistrust and animosity between the two communities, thus are confined in their comfort zones.
Post dissolution of the popular Government, there has been no tangible results to show improvement in situations except for showcasing a series of festivals so as to tacitly present improvement of law and order to Bosses in Delhi, which otherwise is a facade. It started with Shirui Lily festival, followed by holding of Group ‘F’ matches of Durand Cup, celebrations of Rath-yatra, Diwali and now the latest is Sangai Festival and 15th edition of Manipur Polo International. On the opposite is Kuki-Zo community not celebrating Kut festival so as to show solidarity and sympathy with the IDPs and those affected during unfortunate clashes between Zo-Kuki and Meitei communities. The valley people, in particular the Meitei community, have totally forgotten about 60000 IDPs, who are de-facto refugees in their own home land, instead the people got carried away with these series of festivals celebrated lavishly at high scale. It is the same stock of people who had resilience and withstood hardship during “Chahi Taret Khutakpa” (Seven Years Devastation from 1819 to 1826), the same people who can stand in queue at Fuel Stations for hours when there is shortage of fuel because of blockade of highways, men-made or because of nature’s fury.
The much scarce State revenue spent on these avoidable celebrations, could have been optimally utilised for re-settlement of the IDPs. Will the State earn any additional revenues from the Sangai Festival ? For the 2024-25 fiscal year, it is astonishing to observe that Manipur State's own tax revenue was a mere Rs 2,471 crore (9% of total revenue receipts of which majority was from State GST and sales tax/VAT), against total revenue receipts of Rs 27,716 crore. Major chunk of the revenue share was by way of grants-in-aid from the Centre which was Rs 16,016 crore (approx. 58% of total revenue receipts), followed by Central taxes which was Rs 8,930 crore (approx. 32% of total revenue receipts) and finally State's own non-tax revenue which was a meagre Rs 300 crore (approx. 1% of total revenue receipts).
With the GST Reform or ‘GST 2.0” passed by the lawmakers in September 2025, the Manipur State’s own tax revenue is anticipated to be much lower than what was earned in fiscal year 2024-25. In short, survivability of Manipur State is dependent on grants-in-aid from the Centre and revenue shares from the in Central taxes. In short, we are begging from the Centre citing lack of revenue, thus need of the hour is to bring in total normalcy and additional measures to enhance more revenue within own resources. The people at the helm either lack understanding or are not realistic while addressing the ongoing situation to bring normalcy in the State. The priority is two open the two National Highways 2 and 37, safe for travel by all the communities of Manipur, and equally important is to repair and upgrade these two arteries making all weather road without disruptions and blockade. Many people who used to earn their livelihood and contribute to the State Revenue have been affected because of unsafe travel due to divide between the two communities.
The State continues with the burden of many issues affecting the daily lives of its helpless citizens. Majority of the roadways, National Highways, State arterial roads or inter village roads lie in a state of disrepair across major parts of the State. Add to the state of pathetic road conditions, there is irregular power supply and chronic water shortages burdening the plights of the already suffering population.
Government healthcare facilities are in a lamentable state, education sector is no different. The two road arteries connecting the State capital viz. NH-2 and NH-37 suffer from frequent disruptions either because of nature’s fury or blockade imposed by different communities when their parochial demands are not met, leading to soaring prices of essential commodities. Because of the divide between the two communities, the Meitei community cannot travel by road outside the State, and thus are compelled to travel by air. With unchecked air fare skyrocketing to more than ten thousands of rupees even to Guwahati (nearest railhead), the common people are spending large amount of their hard-earned money on air tickets while travelling for medical treatments of their near and dear ones. In fact, post 2023, May 3rd conflict, the air fare should have been streamlined as it is not a luxury but an unfortunate compulsion for the Meitei community to travel by air outside Manipur, when necessitated.
At the political front, after much jockeying and speculation, it remained a wishful thinking and a distant dream for the people of Manipur for a popular Government to return. One of the primary reasons cited by the Union Home Ministry for not installing people’s Government, despite marginal improvement in law and order, is that the trust and differences between the two warring communities of Meitei and Kuki still remain large. There is still simmering animosity between these communities and the atmosphere is not right for ins- tallation of a popular Government.
In the 8th State Assembly elections held in 2022 February, the people of Manipur gave a clear-cut mandate to the Bharatiya Janata Party which won 32 out of 60 Assembly Constituencies. However, the Gvernment headed by Shri N Biren Singh, because of unfortunate violence between two communities on 03rd May 2023 and afterwards, led to failure of Constitutional machinery, thus President’s Rule under Article 356 of the Constitution was imposed with effect from February 13th 2025. The will of the people is being suppressed and exposes BJP’s inability to protect citizens and restore normalcy. President’s Rule reflect political convenience rather than governance and extension appears to be a political ploy to gain milage ahead of the Assembly elections due in 2027. The alleged lack of consensus and indecision among the State’s political leaders regarding formation of new Government has exposed political actors have failed to unite for a democratic alternative. Also, extension of PR proves persistent failure of its political leadership to instal a popular Government, therefore a Constitu- tional limbo now looks to continue for the foreseeable future.
It is disheartening to observe lack of unity and no consensus in selecting a leader to form a Government amongst the largest winning political party, instead are waiting for people in Delhi to nominate a leader. If that be so, since these elected members of legislative leaders lack the basic quality of leadership and moral courage, is it the right time to resign enmass and seek fresh mandate after giving an ultimatum to their Masters in Delhi. They may, unitedly, float a strong Regional Party and dictate terms to Delhi after having attained a strong mandate during fresh elections.
More than NINE months have gone by since imposition of President’s Rule, however no significant changes have come about on ground, except for show-casing of festivals and reduction in frequency of bandhs which was more pronounced earlier. Apparently, the bandhs which were frequent earlier were politically motivated to impose President’s Rule in the State, citing breakdown in law and order. The ground reality as on date is the divide between the Hills and Plains continue, with Meitei and Kuki communities confining in their area of influences.
It remained a distant dream for balance of 60,000 internally displaced peoples (IDPs) to return to their original settlements. The people in the valley viz. Meitei community are confined in appx. 300 sq. km stretching from Shantipur to Kwakta (North to South) and Yangapokpi to Kouktruk (East to West) as there is a strict prohibition citing law and order for travel by the valley people to other parts of Manipur. Likewise, Kuki-Zo people cannot travel in the valley or go from North to South or East to West via Imphal valley because of continuing mistrust and animosity between the two communities, thus are confined in their comfort zones.
Post dissolution of the popular Government, there has been no tangible results to show improvement in situations except for showcasing a series of festivals so as to tacitly present improvement of law and order to Bosses in Delhi, which otherwise is a facade. It started with Shirui Lily festival, followed by holding of Group ‘F’ matches of Durand Cup, celebrations of Rath-yatra, Diwali and now the latest is Sangai Festival and 15th edition of Manipur Polo International. On the opposite is Kuki-Zo community not celebrating Kut festival so as to show solidarity and sympathy with the IDPs and those affected during unfortunate clashes between Zo-Kuki and Meitei communities. The valley people, in particular the Meitei community, have totally forgotten about 60000 IDPs, who are de-facto refugees in their own home land, instead the people got carried away with these series of festivals celebrated lavishly at high scale. It is the same stock of people who had resilience and withstood hardship during “Chahi Taret Khutakpa” (Seven Years Devastation from 1819 to 1826), the same people who can stand in queue at Fuel Stations for hours when there is shortage of fuel because of blockade of highways, men-made or because of nature’s fury.
The much scarce State revenue spent on these avoidable celebrations, could have been optimally utilised for re-settlement of the IDPs. Will the State earn any additional revenues from the Sangai Festival ? For the 2024-25 fiscal year, it is astonishing to observe that Manipur State's own tax revenue was a mere Rs 2,471 crore (9% of total revenue receipts of which majority was from State GST and sales tax/VAT), against total revenue receipts of Rs 27,716 crore. Major chunk of the revenue share was by way of grants-in-aid from the Centre which was Rs 16,016 crore (approx. 58% of total revenue receipts), followed by Central taxes which was Rs 8,930 crore (approx. 32% of total revenue receipts) and finally State's own non-tax revenue which was a meagre Rs 300 crore (approx. 1% of total revenue receipts).
With the GST Reform or ‘GST 2.0” passed by the lawmakers in September 2025, the Manipur State’s own tax revenue is anticipated to be much lower than what was earned in fiscal year 2024-25. In short, survivability of Manipur State is dependent on grants-in-aid from the Centre and revenue shares from the in Central taxes. In short, we are begging from the Centre citing lack of revenue, thus need of the hour is to bring in total normalcy and additional measures to enhance more revenue within own resources. The people at the helm either lack understanding or are not realistic while addressing the ongoing situation to bring normalcy in the State. The priority is two open the two National Highways 2 and 37, safe for travel by all the communities of Manipur, and equally important is to repair and upgrade these two arteries making all weather road without disruptions and blockade. Many people who used to earn their livelihood and contribute to the State Revenue have been affected because of unsafe travel due to divide between the two communities.
The State continues with the burden of many issues affecting the daily lives of its helpless citizens. Majority of the roadways, National Highways, State arterial roads or inter village roads lie in a state of disrepair across major parts of the State. Add to the state of pathetic road conditions, there is irregular power supply and chronic water shortages burdening the plights of the already suffering population.
Government healthcare facilities are in a lamentable state, education sector is no different. The two road arteries connecting the State capital viz. NH-2 and NH-37 suffer from frequent disruptions either because of nature’s fury or blockade imposed by different communities when their parochial demands are not met, leading to soaring prices of essential commodities. Because of the divide between the two communities, the Meitei community cannot travel by road outside the State, and thus are compelled to travel by air. With unchecked air fare skyrocketing to more than ten thousands of rupees even to Guwahati (nearest railhead), the common people are spending large amount of their hard-earned money on air tickets while travelling for medical treatments of their near and dear ones. In fact, post 2023, May 3rd conflict, the air fare should have been streamlined as it is not a luxury but an unfortunate compulsion for the Meitei community to travel by air outside Manipur, when necessitated.
At the political front, after much jockeying and speculation, it remained a wishful thinking and a distant dream for the people of Manipur for a popular Government to return. One of the primary reasons cited by the Union Home Ministry for not installing people’s Government, despite marginal improvement in law and order, is that the trust and differences between the two warring communities of Meitei and Kuki still remain large. There is still simmering animosity between these communities and the atmosphere is not right for ins- tallation of a popular Government.
In the 8th State Assembly elections held in 2022 February, the people of Manipur gave a clear-cut mandate to the Bharatiya Janata Party which won 32 out of 60 Assembly Constituencies. However, the Gvernment headed by Shri N Biren Singh, because of unfortunate violence between two communities on 03rd May 2023 and afterwards, led to failure of Constitutional machinery, thus President’s Rule under Article 356 of the Constitution was imposed with effect from February 13th 2025. The will of the people is being suppressed and exposes BJP’s inability to protect citizens and restore normalcy. President’s Rule reflect political convenience rather than governance and extension appears to be a political ploy to gain milage ahead of the Assembly elections due in 2027. The alleged lack of consensus and indecision among the State’s political leaders regarding formation of new Government has exposed political actors have failed to unite for a democratic alternative. Also, extension of PR proves persistent failure of its political leadership to instal a popular Government, therefore a Constitu- tional limbo now looks to continue for the foreseeable future.
It is disheartening to observe lack of unity and no consensus in selecting a leader to form a Government amongst the largest winning political party, instead are waiting for people in Delhi to nominate a leader. If that be so, since these elected members of legislative leaders lack the basic quality of leadership and moral courage, is it the right time to resign enmass and seek fresh mandate after giving an ultimatum to their Masters in Delhi. They may, unitedly, float a strong Regional Party and dictate terms to Delhi after having attained a strong mandate during fresh elections.