In a significant legal move regarding the controversial Gwaltabi incident, the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has filed a Right to Information (RTI) application seeking clarity and accountability from the state administration. The application was submitted following an incident on May 20, where personnel from the 4th Battalion of the Mahar Regiment allegedly directed the removal of the word “Manipur” from a government-run Manipur State Transport (MST) bus carrying journalists to the Shirui Lily Festival in Ukhrul.
At a press conference on Tuesday at Congress Bhavan, Rabi Khan, spokesperson for the MPCC Legal Department, expressed strong condemnation, stating, “The incident is deeply condemnable and a direct assault on the identity of Manipur. It has wounded the sentiments of the people and represents a dangerous precedent.” Khan highlighted that public outrage has been mounting, with widespread protests demanding apologies from the Governor and resignations from top officials, including Chief Secretary P.K. Singh, Security Adviser Kuldiep Singh, and DGP Rajiv Singh. Yet, despite these pressures, government responses have been lacking.
Khan further criticized the government’s silence, calling it “unfortunate and unacceptable,” and questioned the possibility of such a directive being issued without approval from higher authorities. To uncover the specifics surrounding the incident, the Congress party’s RTI application requests several pieces of information, including the name and designation of the individual who ordered the bus’s stoppage and the removal of the state name from its signage. It also seeks the name and designation of the Commandant of the 4th Bn. Mahar Regiment present at Gwaltabi on that day, as well as information related to State and Central Public Information Officers relevant to the regiment.
Khan reiterated that if the Home Department does not hold the requested information, it must be transferred to the appropriate authority, as outlined in Section 6(3) of the RTI Act, 2005. He concluded by stating, “The people of Manipur deserve the truth,” emphasizing the Congress party’s hope that the information will be shared in the larger interest of the state’s identity.
The Gwaltabi incident has ignited significant condemnation and is viewed as a critical point in ongoing discussions around Manipur’s identity and the involvement of central forces in the region.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/manipur/story/manipur-congress-files-rti-on-gwaltabi-incident-seeks-accountability-for-identity-row-1220777-2025-05-28?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2025-05-28 18:52:00
