Dr Bimol rues random drop of 'starred question'
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, March 13 2025:
Lok Sabha MP Dr Bimol Akoijam has raised serious concerns over what he termed as an 'infringement' on his rights as a parliamentarian after his scheduled Starred Question slot for March 11, was cancelled without explanation.
Dr Bimol revealed that his name had originally appeared 16th in the ballot for Starred Questions but was missing from the final list released for the day's proceedings.
His questions, directed at the Ministry of Home Affairs, sought details on agreements signed between the government and insurgent groups in the Northeast, including financial benefits extended to these groups and the progress of their rehabilitation.
"This is undoubtedly a serious infringement on my rights and privileges as an elected Member of Parliament.
It undermines my constitutionally mandated duty and responsibility of exercising the legislative function," Dr Bimol stated in a Facebook post, highlighting the gravity of the issue.
The MP further disclosed that he had written to the secretary general of the Lok Sabha seeking clarification on the matter.
However, he received no response.
Frustrated by the lack of communication, he raised the issue during zero hour in Parliament and later met with Speaker Om Birla.
According to Dr Bimol, the Speaker took note of the matter and assured him that his office would take necessary action in the coming week.
"As the custodian of the House (Lok Sabha), the Speaker has kindly taken note of the issue and told me that his office will do the necessary next week," he wrote.
Dr Bimol's questions sought information about long-standing security and governance issues in the Northeast.
He had asked the government to provide a state-wise breakdown of agreements signed with insurgent or armed groups, details of the agreements and their extensions, and the total funds spent on rehabilitating members of these groups.
Additionally, he sought clarity on the pecuniary benefits given to individuals under these agreements and the overall effectiveness of government efforts in disarming militants and reintegrating them into society.
Significantly, he pointed out that the answers to these questions would have helped clarify the present status of the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement with Kuki armed groups, which are allegedly involved in the ongoing crisis in Manipur.
The SoO, a ceasefire arrangement between the government and several Kuki insurgent groups, has been a subject of intense debate, with accusations that some of these groups are still engaging in unlawful activities despite being part of the peace process.
Dr Bimol asserted that his questions did not violate any parliamentary rules regarding admissibility and questioned why they were removed from the final list.
"To the best of my knowledge, my questions do not fall under any of the rules/concerns on the admissibility of questions," he stated.
The government's dealings with armed groups and the funds allocated for their rehabilitation have often been matters of controversy, with critics calling for greater scrutiny.
The unexpected removal of the MP's questions has sparked concerns over parliamentary transparency and accountability, particularly regarding sensitive security issues in the Northeast.
Comment
