COCOMI questions MLAs

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Nov 25: The COCOMI has questioned the participation of two MLAs in the opening ceremony of Manipur Sangai Festival 2025 on November 21 against which strong objections were raised and protests staged to the extent of many suffering grievous injuries.
A statement issued by the COCOMI asked whether the participation of MLAs Thongam Biswajit (Thongju AC) and Thounaojam Basanta (Nambol AC) should be seen as challenging the people’s sentiment and the collective voice or something else.  
It appealed to the people of the two Assembly segments to  take collective decisions on the participation of their representatives in the opening ceremony of the Sangai Festival, and clear all misunderstandings with the two MLAs.
If the people’s representatives stand openly against the sentiments and wishes of the people, it is nothing but rendering democracy meaningless, it said.
When the people’s representatives do not respect the people’s position, the people should have a very clear understanding of what steps they must take otherwise the representatives will further disrespect the citizens, and do whatever they like, the COCOMI said.
It is imperative to bring the two MLAs to an understanding on their participation in the opening ceremony of Manipur Sangai Festival 2025 by completely disregarding the people’s sentiment otherwise the other MLAs as well as future MLAs may disrespect the people.
In such a scenario, the MLAs may become dictators or autocrats in the name of democracy, according to the statement issued by COCOMI IPR Sub-Committee Convenor Laikhuram Jayenta.
Rohan Philem who also attended the opening ceremony has admitted his mistake in public. Now the people want to know the two MLAs’ positions, it said.
The COCOMI has also appealed to both Th Biswajit and Th Basanta to state the compelling reasons for attending the opening ceremony, if there were any. The COCOMI is the voice of the people. What the COCOMI is saying today is the voice and feeling of the suffering IDPs. Any decision on the issue of the IDPs should be taken by the masses collectively, it added.