Thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) across the valley districts erupted in coordinated sit-in protests today, directly appealing to the people of Manipur to boycott the Sangai Festival if they genuinely care about the state’s future and the suffering of displaced families.
The protestors condemned the government for pushing ahead with the event while Manipur remains trapped in unrest and displacement, calling it a “shameful attempt to fake normalcy.”
Demonstrators from multiple relief camps, many living in makeshift shelters for over two years, said it was outrageous for the state to host a gala tourism celebration while victims of violence still sleep on floors, depend on rations, and remain unable to return to their homes.
Women, youth, and elderly protestors held banners demanding dignity, rehabilitation, and safety rather than festivals, accusing the government of prioritising spectacle over justice.
“We cannot force anyone, but if you love Manipur, do not take part in this festival. Stand with us, not with the lie being sold as peace,” said IDP representatives, urging the public to turn their absence into a strong political message.
They further accused the authorities of using the Sangai Festival as a tool to deceive the outside world into believing Manipur has returned to normalcy.
“There is no normalcy when thousands are stuck in relief camps and Meiteis cannot travel freely on their own highways,” one protest leader asserted, warning that attending the festival now would amount to ignoring the suffering of victims and helping mask their prolonged crisis.
