The serene Shirui Lily Festival faces stormy clouds as a controversial video circulates, stirring fear and fury. But with strong condemnations from Tangkhul Naga leaders and assurances from Kuki chiefs, hopes remain high for a peaceful celebration.
BY PC Bureau
May 17, 2025 — The upcoming Shirui Lily Festival, slated for May 20–24 in Manipur’s Tangkhul Naga-dominated Ukhrul district, has been thrust into controversy following the circulation of a viral video allegedly featuring Paojakhup Guite, president of the Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO), Delhi-NCR, making incendiary remarks against Meitei attendees. The video, now widely shared across social media platforms, has provoked widespread condemnation and heightened ethnic tensions in the already volatile state of Manipur.
In the controversial footage, Guite is purported to have warned Meitei individuals against traversing Kuki-inhabited buffer zones such as Litan village en route to the festival, allegedly stating: “None of them should be spared. Kill them all.” The speech has ignited fury among Meitei and Naga communities alike, with many calling for Guite’s immediate arrest and labelling the remarks as incitement to ethnic violence.
Tangkhul Naga activist Asang Kasar strongly denounced any attempts to intimidate or block Meitei festival-goers, calling the alleged threats a “direct challenge to every citizen of Manipur.” His stance was echoed by the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL), a prominent regional body, which emphasized the festival’s importance as a symbol of cultural unity and ecological awareness.
The Manipur Police has already denied any official recognition of the group “Kuki-Zo Village Volunteers – Eastern Zone (KZVV-EZ),” which had issued a threatening press release on May 11 warning Meiteis to stay out of Kuki areas during the festival. The police labelled the group as “unknown” and its threats as “fake,” assuring that security measures have been strengthened to maintain peace throughout the festival.
🚨𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 @𝐊𝐒𝐎𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐡𝐢 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐚𝐨𝐣𝐚𝐤𝐡𝐮𝐩 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐞‼️
“Therefore, any Meitei, whether man or woman, who comes to attend the Shiroi festival by crossing the buffer zone should not be allowed to leave ALIVE.”How come such a… pic.twitter.com/1tvzyqvuUa
— Bikramjit Kangabam (@BikramjitMK) May 16, 2025
Adding to the official pushback, the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) and several Kuki Village Chiefs have distanced themselves from the statements issued by KZVV-EZ, stating that they do not endorse such inflammatory rhetoric. In a meeting held on May 16 at the TNL office in Ukhrul, the Kuki chiefs reaffirmed their commitment to peace, clarifying that no individual or group should engage in checking or frisking travelers—a rule enshrined in a 2023 agreement.
“We should not be held responsible for any irresponsible statements made by fringe outfits claiming to represent our community,” said one village chief present at the meeting. “There will be no disturbances from our side.”
NSCN and Civil Society Call for Restraint
The Wung Tangkhul Region of the NSCN (National Socialist Council of Nagalim) also issued a stern advisory rejecting Kuki territorial claims in Ukhrul and warning against any attempts to sabotage the festival. The NSCN’s statement read, “The territorial jurisdiction of the so-called Kukiland doesn’t cover even an inch of Naga territory in Ukhrul areas.”
During the PR in Manipur, why such activities allowed? Where is Governor? Where is Chief Secretary? Where is DGP? Where is our PM at this time? The present PR in Manipur is more danger than the 2nd world war and we had never seen before such PR. Dear hon’ble PM and HM please do… pic.twitter.com/67KR6D6ph5
— Kasar Ashang (@ashang_kasar) May 16, 2025
The group called for full cooperation with state security forces, who are now working under the leadership of Manipur DGP Rajiv Singh to ensure the safety of all participants.
Context of Deepening Divide
The controversy arises amid a fragile peace in Manipur, where ethnic strife between Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities has left over 260 dead and thousands displaced since violence broke out in May 2023. The KSO, under leaders like Guite, has vocally demanded a separate administration, citing marginalization and insecurity in mixed zones. Guite himself was previously embroiled in a storm of controversy when he allegedly admitted in a 2024 television debate that Kuki groups could “manufacture long-range rockets,” triggering a security alert by then Chief Minister N. Biren Singh.
ALSO READ: Kuki-Zo Leaders Suspend Further Dialogue with Centre
Despite Guite’s fiery image, no official statement from KSO Delhi-NCR directly confirming or denying the viral video has emerged, leaving room for speculation and misinformation. Social media, meanwhile, remains awash with calls for restraint and warnings of escalation.
Festival Organizers Stand Firm
In the midst of mounting anxiety, the Tangkhul Naga community remains steadfast in its resolve to host the Shirui Lily Festival without disruption. Organizers, civil society groups, and security forces are coordinating closely to ensure a safe, inclusive environment for the celebration, which honors the rare Shirui lily, endemic to the region and a symbol of Manipur’s ecological heritage.
“The festival belongs to everyone,” said Asang Kasar. “Let it be a space for healing, not hatred.”
With just days to go, the stakes remain high. But the combined efforts of community leaders, local authorities, and peace advocates offer a glimmer of hope that the festival can rise above the storm, preserving its role as a rare cultural bridge in a deeply divided land.
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