Centre treating Manipur as its fiefdom: Prof Bimol
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 18 2024: Newly-elected Congress MP professor Angomcha Bimol Akoijam has accused the Union government of treating Manipur as a "non-entity" and its own "fiefdom, " following Chief Minister N Biren's absence from a crucial security review meeting chaired by Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi on Monday.

According to a report published in The Hindu, Prof Bimol criticised the Union government for not inviting the chief minister, despite the presence of the chief secretary and the Director General of Police at the meeting.

Prof Bimol questioned the Union government's approach, drawing parallels with the security review meetings for Jammu and Kashmir, where the Lieutenant Governor is usually present.

He argued that law and order is a state subject and the Union's actions suggest it is treating Manipur as a subordinate territory.

"The rest of the country should take note - this is just the Union government flexing its muscles, Prof Bimol stated.

The Delhi Meitei Coordinating Committee (DMCC), representing various Meetei civil society organisations, passed a resolution on Sunday calling for the resignation of the chief minister and his cabinet if they cannot manage the situation effectively.

Meetei CSO leaders claimed the CM's absence at Monday s meeting is another indication that the crisis in Manipur is being controlled by the Union government.

Kuki-Zo civil society leaders in Manipur also argued that Biren's absence indicates the Centre's lack of confidence in his ability to handle the crisis.

Prof Bimol further emphasised that the CM's absence exacerbates the perception that he is under the control of the Union government.

"This brings us back to the basic question I have been asking from Day 1 - Who is in charge of law and order in Manipur?" Prof Bimol said.

The DMCC resolution also criticised the chief minister for failing to visit Jiribam following recent violence in the district.

An advance security team of the CM was ambushed en route to Jiribam three days after the violence broke out on June 6, preventing his planned visit.

Although state forces have since entered Jiribam, the CM has yet to visit the area.

The DMCC reiterated allegations that Central security forces are biased, siding with Kuki militants, and acting with institutional support under the Suspension of Operation (SOO) agreement.

The committee asserted that this bias is facilitated by the approval of the Government of India.

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