COCOMI Slams Centre’s ‘Double Standards’ in Handling Manipur and Kashmir Crises

Imphal, April 30: The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), an umbrella organisation of civil society groups in Manipur, has strongly criticised the Union government for what it described as “double standards” in addressing internal security threats. The group urged the Centre to act with the same urgency in tackling “terrorists from Myanmar” as it did following the recent terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives, including a Nepali citizen.

Speaking at a press conference in Imphal, COCOMI convenor Khuraijam Athouba accused the Central government of neglecting the ongoing crisis in Manipur, where ethnic violence and instability have persisted for nearly two years. He questioned the Centre’s swift response to the Kashmir incident while allegedly ignoring similar threats in the Northeast.

“The Government of India continues to neglect the Manipur crisis while taking prompt action after the Pahalgam incident. It seems the Centre treats the people of Manipur as second-class citizens,” Athouba stated.

He further alleged that terrorist groups operating from Myanmar are being handled with complacency, in stark contrast to the aggressive stance taken against terror elements in other parts of the country. Civil society groups in the Meitei-dominated Imphal Valley have repeatedly accused Kuki “narco-terrorists,” some reportedly operating from Myanmar, of fuelling the ethnic unrest with an alleged goal of carving out a separate homeland for the Kuki-Zo tribal communities. However, Kuki-Zo organisations have vehemently denied these accusations.

“The government’s biased and unequal treatment of its citizens in different parts of the country has long been a serious concern,” Athouba added, warning that such treatment would only widen the divide between Manipur and the rest of the country.

COCOMI also condemned the recent imposition of President’s Rule in Manipur and criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not visiting the violence-hit state or meeting with internally displaced residents.

The organisation called for a more balanced and inclusive approach from the Centre to address the ongoing humanitarian and security crisis in the region.