Five proscribed insurgent groups operating in Manipur have collectively issued a strong ultimatum, demanding that all individuals and organizations involved in the recently concluded Sangai Festival issue a public apology by December 10. The coalition, comprising the Kangleipak Communist Party, Kanglei Yawol Kanba Lup, People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak, PREPAK (Progressive), and the United National Liberation Front, denounced participation in the state’s flagship cultural event as an act of “betrayal” against the thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) who continue to reside in relief camps.
Manipur hosted the Sangai Festival from November 21 to 30, a period during which numerous IDPs were simultaneously engaging in protests, calling for secure resettlement back to their homes. The state has been gripped by an ongoing crisis since ethnic clashes erupted between the Meitei and Kuki communities in May 2023, resulting in the deaths of at least 260 people and the displacement of thousands more. The insurgent groups asserted in their joint statement that the government has failed to take any significant action to resolve the protracted conflict or to properly rehabilitate the affected population, even as displaced families struggle for survival.
The outfits explicitly declared that every artist, business enterprise, professional, and stall owner who participated in the festival must publicly apologize before the stipulated deadline. Furthermore, they announced a year-long ban against four prominent drama troupes that performed at the event, accusing them of actively working against what they termed “the wishes of the people.” This unprecedented ultimatum introduces a significant new element of tension within the state, which is already struggling with a deep-seated crisis, profound community mistrust, and the persistent, unresolved suffering of thousands of displaced residents.
