Manipur: Congress LS MP Angomcha Bimol Akoijam Warns Against Normalising State’s Division Amid Ongoing Conflict

Angomcha Bimol Akoijam said the demographic dynamics in Manipur are shifting in an alarming manner

Lok Sabha MP from Inner Manipur, Angomcha Bimol Akoijam has raised serious concerns over what he described as attempts to “normalise the division” of Manipur amidst the ongoing ethnic violence in the state.

Addressing the media at his residence in Imphal, the Congress MP today said that restricting free movement and the ongoing conflict could be a deliberate tactic aimed at deepening communal divides.

Highlighting the legacy of a porous border and the rise in illegal immigration, Akoijam said the demographic dynamics in Manipur are shifting in an alarming manner.

“As a border area, porous border is a legacy issue. I think there is enough indication that we have an issue of illegal immigrants and demographic dynamics are alarming in that sense and there is a certain twisted nature of the demographic character in the state. I have insisted that we must institute a proper, judicious legal channel to delineate citizens from non-citizens. In the meantime, we should also realise how various institutions are implicated in this. In the long run, this is the key issue that we need to resolve, but at the moment what ought to be done is address the ongoing conflict and restricted movement. Behind this, I believe, is an attempt to naturalise and normalise division within the state. So, I think that is a far greater threat right now,” said the Congress MP.

“We have been talking about the integrity of the state. People are trying to normalise the division of the state right now. I think when we talk about illegal immigrants, nobody should doubt that we have an issue about demographic character which needs to be addressed judiciously. But at the same time, that should not blind us from the fact that we are currently facing a situation where this division is being normalised. That must be addressed first. Only then should we move toward proper measures to delineate citizens from non-citizens and do the necessary things,” he added.

Angomcha Bimol Akoijam stressed that without ensuring the free movement of people and the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their homes, the state cannot claim a return to normalcy.

“Until and unless we have a free movement and these internally displaced people are not able to return homes, never ever we should think that we are back to normal and that peace has returned to the state. Until and unless these two conditions are met, we must not delude ourselves into thinking peace has returned. We should not forget that,” he said.

Akoijam also raised concerns about the way security operations are being conducted, particularly against armed groups and called for clarity on the status of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with insurgent groups.

He cautioned against any perception of bias. He said, “When you crack down the arm groups, it should be done judiciously, it should not be seen as a partition activity. Certain communities have been targeted and some others have not. That feeling should not be given. What I am saying is that we need to have clarity on the Suspension of Operations (SoO) whether, the SoO is still in place or not.”

Also Read: Manipur: LS MP Bimol Akoijam Slams State and Central Governments for Over 15 Months of Violence

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