State must reassert its authority: MP Bimol
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, February 10 2025:
Inner Manipur PC Congress MP and JNU professor Angomcha Bimol Akoijam has made a strong case for the state to reassert its authority, especially in the wake of chief minister N Biren Singh's resignation.
In an exclusive interview with The Indian Express, he criticised both the state and central governments for their failure to contain the 21-month-long conflict in Manipur, arguing that the lack of decisive action has allowed armed groups to challenge the state's legitimacy.
He reiterated that the situation demands firm, resolute steps to restore governance and ensure the well-being of the people.
On Biren's resignation, Bimol said he initially took the news with scepticism, given the growing political uncertainty surrounding the CM's resignation.
He said that Manipur needs a stable and responsible government that upholds the interests of the state and the Indian Constitution, which, according to him, has been subverted.
He pointed to the division within the state cabinet, where some members aligned with the Kuki demand for a Union Territory, effectively advocating the division of Manipur, while others claimed to be protecting the state's integrity.
"This confusion has only worsened the suffering of the people, " he noted.
Referring to Biren's resignation letter to the Governor, which included a request to maintain Manipur's territorial integrity, Bimol dismissed it as an "emotional drama".
He stated that protecting territorial integrity has always been the position of most national parties, including the Congress, and recalled that former BJP Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had also committed to this principle.
He, nevertheless, questioned whether PM Modi has done the same and challenged Biren to admit openly if members of his own party were contemplating the division of Manipur.
Assessing the future of the state, Bimol expressed concern about the actions of the Government of India, accusing it of disregarding constitutional propriety.
He also blamed contradictory statements from the state and central governments for creating confusion and exacerbating the crisis.
Feeling sorry for the failure to uphold constitutional principles, Bimol pointed out that while India celebrates 75 years of its Constitution, Manipur has been denied constitutional governance and urged the Centre to follow Raj Dharma, treat the people of Manipur as part of the country, and take firm, judicious steps to restore their dignity and well-being.
On the possibility of President's Rule, Bimol outlined two potential courses of action - installing a new government and allowing the Assembly to function or placing the Assembly under animated suspension or dissolution.
"Dissolving the Assembly would necessitate fresh elections, whereas animated suspension would allow it to be revived at a later stage," he said.
Expressing disappointment with Kuki leaders for justifying killings as acts of retaliation, Bimol argued that "such justification only perpetuates violence, stating that if retaliation were to be accepted as a valid reason, then all acts of violence would fall under that category".
He further noted that, to his knowledge, no Kuki leader had made a public appeal for peace and said he would closely observe their response to recent developments.
On whether Kuki leaders would be more open to a resolution following Biren's resignation, Bimol questioned whether any Kuki political leader had ever appealed for calm and noted that they had, instead, primarily focused on demanding a separate administration and justifying violence.
He then recalled an incident in Imphal where he addressed a gathering and spoke about the killings in Jiribam, where a Hmar woman was killed followed by a Meetei woman - emphasising that women are always the first victims in conflicts - and had requested a moment of silence for both victims.
Questioning as to whether a Kuki leader would be able to do the same in the Hills, where they dominate, Bimol lamented that sensible voices from both sides had been suppressed and expressed hope that better sense would prevail, as peaceful co-existence is what both Manipur and India need.
On the issue of radical groups in the valley allegedly being close to the Biren administration, Bimol pointed out that vested interests exist within both the Kuki and Meetei communities.
"Political patronage has played a crucial role in the activities of these armed groups and that what matters most is how the Government of India deals with them," he noted.
At the same time, he accused the state of abdicating its responsibility, referencing a recent viral video in which people were seen playing football with assault rifles in Manipur and questioned whether such scenes could ever be imagined in Delhi, Mumbai, or Kerala and said that a state derives its legitimacy from its monopoly over the use of physical force.
"If a state fails to enforce this, it ceases to function effectively and risks becoming a rogue State," he reminded, urging the authorities to confront groups that challenge the state's authority.
Upon asking whether the state's response to the crisis has been weak, Bimol said that it does not matter whether the problem lies in the Meetei-dominated valley or the Kuki-dominated hills - any challenge to the authority of the state must be dealt with decisively.
He also decried the tendency to frame the conflict in.com-munal or religious terms, arguing that the narrative of majority-versus-minority or Hindu-versus-Christian divisions is being exploited for political purposes and asserted: "What Manipur needs now is for the state to reassert its authority, end the cycle of violence, and restore governance" .
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