World Meetei Council urges Meeteis to suspend entertainment and festivals, calls for CSO unity and visionary leadership amid Manipur's continuing crisis.
Imphal, July 19: The World Meetei Council (WMC) has appealed to the people of Manipur, particularly the Meetei community, to refrain from organising entertainment programmes, music events, fairs, and lavish religious festivals, arguing that such activities are inappropriate at a time when the state is facing an unprecedented socio-political crisis.
In a press release issued on Sunday titled "Greetings to the People of the Land," the organisation expressed concern that while social media is filled with accounts of suffering and uncertainty, public life in many localities appears detached from the gravity of the situation.
The WMC observed that despite widespread discussions about the hardships faced by the people, entertainment programmes and expensive religious events continue to be organised across the state. It questioned whether such activities reflected a failure to acknowledge the seriousness of the present circumstances.
The council further remarked that unlike other communities, which it claimed respond collectively according to the challenges they face, the Meetei community has continued with celebrations without adequately reflecting on the historical and political moment confronting Manipur.
Highlighting what it described as a critical juncture in the state's history, the WMC maintained that the Meeteis, despite taking pride in a civilisational history spanning more than two millennia, have yet to collectively deliberate on the direction they should take for the future.
The organisation also expressed concern over the functioning of various civil society organisations (CSOs), noting that while numerous groups are actively working for the welfare of the state, they continue to pursue their own separate perspectives rather than developing a unified strategy.
According to the WMC, the absence of comprehensive discussions among CSOs has prevented the emergence of a collective vision for Manipur. It reiterated its earlier appeal for all civil society organisations to convene closed-door meetings, exchange views candidly, and formulate a common roadmap that prioritises the interests of the state over individual organisational agendas.
The council emphasised that the present moment is historically significant and warned that mistakes made now may have irreversible consequences. It therefore urged citizens to voluntarily avoid organising entertainment events and festivities, asserting that the time demands unity, reflection, and coordinated action instead of celebrations.
Recognising that many people depend on such programmes for their livelihood, the WMC also appealed to those engaged in the entertainment and event sector to collectively explore alternative means of income in the larger interest of Manipur's future.
In its concluding appeal, the organisation called upon the Government of Manipur to provide what it described as visionary leadership. It cautioned that if the state continues to be guided by a "myopic vision," the future of Manipur could become increasingly uncertain, and urged the Chief Minister to adopt a broader and more forward-looking approach to addressing the ongoing challenges.
The statement reflects the WMC's position that greater unity among civil society, strategic long-term thinking, and restraint in public celebrations are necessary as Manipur continues to grapple with prolonged political, social, and security challenges.
