A large group of women protestors, locally known as Meira Paibis, staged a night torch rally at Khurai in Imphal East on Thursday night, condemning what they allege is the central government’s deliberate attempt to “obliterate Manipur.”
Protestors carried placards and raised slogans such as “Long Live Manipur,” “Manipur Muthat Pa Yaroi,” and “Meechang Meekhai Naiba India Government Gi Thouong Yaningde”—expressing their strong rejection of what they see as divisive policies from the Centre.
One of the women protestors, speaking during the rally, criticised the move and the wider policies of the central government:
“This rally of ours is against the Indian government’s divide and rule policy that is being played against us. They are trying to erase our Manipur State Transport, asking us to rename it. In which part of India does something like this happen?” she questioned.
“Even with President’s Rule in place, these things are happening—in which Indian state, in which state in the world, does this happen?” she added.
She further warned that any delay in collective public response could prove costly:
“By the time we react, it might be too late.”
The torch rally witnessed widespread participation from women across the locality, reflecting deepening public resentment over perceived attempts to undermine Manipur’s identity and autonomy.
