The State must act to protect pilgrimage rights and uphold religious freedom in Manipur

The recent threats issued by certain Kuki groups warning members of the Meitei community against visiting their sacred hill for annual rituals are deeply disturbing. These threats, reported widely in the media, are not isolated incidents of local tension—they represent a broader, more dangerous violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed to all citizens under the Indian Constitution. At the heart of this issue lies Article 26, which affirms the right of every religious denomination to manage its own affairs in matters of religion. When such a right is challenged by intimidation and threats, it ceases to be a community concern—it becomes a constitutional crisis.
The sacred hill in question holds immense religious and cultural significance for the Meitei community. For generations, it has served as a pilgrimage site where annual rituals are performed, ancestral respect is offered, and spiritual identity is affirmed. These traditions form an inseparable part of the Meitei ethos and are deeply embedded in their cultural fabric. Attempts to block this religious activity, therefore, are not merely expressions of dissent—they are acts of deliberate religious obstruction.
What makes this situation even more unacceptable is the response—or rather, the lack of response—from the state authorities. In a democratic and secular republic like India, the state has a legal and moral responsibility to ensure that its citizens can practice their religion freely and without fear. Silence or inaction in the face of such threats is not neutrality—it is negligence. When the state fails to safeguard sacred sites and the rights of its people to access them, it risks losing its legitimacy as a guarantor of justice and equality.
It is important to reiterate here that Article 26 of the Constitution is not a symbolic clause. It provides the right to “establish and maintain institutions for religious and charitable purposes,” and to “manage its own affairs in matters of religion.” These rights are not granted with conditions based on region, religion, or community. They are universal and must be upheld across all parts of the country. If any group—be it majority or minority—attempts to override these rights through intimidation or threats of violence, it is the duty of the state to act firmly and lawfully.
This latest incident has also reopened painful questions about the fragile state of communal relations in Manipur. For almost a year, the state has been grappling with ongoing ethnic tensions and violence that have displaced thousands and left communities fractured. At a time when healing, dialogue, and reconciliation are most needed, such actions by fringe groups only worsen the wounds and deepen the divide. The state must not allow itself to become a silent spectator in this dangerous game of provocation.
The protection of pilgrimage routes and sacred spaces is not new to Indian governance. Throughout the country, from the Amarnath Yatra in Kashmir to the Sabarimala pilgrimage in Kerala, governments—irrespective of their political affiliation—have made arrangements, provided security, and ensured access for worshippers. Manipur deserves the same seriousness and commitment. The annual rituals at the sacred Iputhou Thngjing hill must be protected with equal resolve. Security personnel must be deployed, the area secured, and the rights of the devotees defended. Anything less would amount to discrimination and selective implementation of the Constitution.
Moreover, those issuing threats must be held accountable under the law. Freedom of religion and expression cannot coexist with unchecked intimidation. The government must investigate, identify, and prosecute those attempting to incite communal unrest through these warnings. Upholding the law in such cases will send a strong message that the Constitution is not a passive document but a living force that must be defended against all forms of extremism.
Religious freedom is not a matter of political convenience. It is the cornerstone of India’s identity, the very soul of its democratic framework. When that freedom is compromised, it weakens the entire nation. In Manipur, the right of the Meitei people to access their sacred site is not just about one ritual or one community—it is about the integrity of the Indian Republic.
The government—both at the state and central level—must act decisively, not only to ensure peace but to protect the constitutional order that binds this diverse nation together. Inaction at this point would not just be a failure of governance—it would be a betrayal of the very values upon which India was built.