MP Bimol suspects centre plotting division of Manipur
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 11 2024: Bimol Akoijam, a sociology professor of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), who recently won the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha seat on Congress ticket, has raised concerns over what he perceives as a deliberate move by the Government of India to divide Manipur.

Bimol, who became a prominent figure in national politics following a viral speech in the Lok Sabha, voiced his suspicions in an exclusive interview with Onmanorama during his visit to Kerala for the Kadamakudy International Film Festival.

Reflecting on the ongoing strife in Manipur, which has persisted for over a year, Bimol expressed frustration over the multiple conflicting narratives about the violence.

He stated that the roots of the conflict were evident to him well before it erupted, attributing the unrest to a growing ethno-nationalist and tribal identity movement that has been exploited by various political forces.

Bimol criticised the Government of India's inaction, suggesting that the prolonged violence indicates complicity or, at the very least, a lack of resolve to restore peace.

"Anybody in this country will know that such kind of violence would not last long unless the government is complicit through its own inaction,'' he remarked.

The parliamentarian dismissed claims that the violence was purely communal, while arguing that it stemmed from deeper issues related to ethno-nationalist mobilisation that challenges the very idea of Manipur.

Bimol noted that while the Kuki community, central to the conflict, is predominantly Christian, the violence cannot be reduced to a religious clash.

"There are a lot of Christians among the Meiteis also and they're a multi-religious community.

In fact, the Christian population among my Meiteis could be larger than any of these tribal communities.

So in that sense, it's not a clash between religious groups," he said.

The Congress MP further alleged that the BJP might have played a role in exacerbating the situation, citing reports of promises made to tribal groups in exchange for electoral support.

"The suspicion comes because they have not cracked down on this violence," he said.

Bimol also highlighted the possible involvement of external elements, including drug mafias and counter-insurgency strategies, in fuelling the conflict.

He expressed concern over the lack of action from the Central government, speculating that there might be a larger geopolitical strategy at play to divide Manipur for political gain.

"I get a feeling that there is a larger geo-political dimension to the issue - vested interests who thrive on drugs.

The drug mafias might include elements from outside the state and local operators.

India's counter insurgency strategies - all these factors get implicated," the MP said.

Criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's absence from the conflict zone, Bimol questioned the Centre's reluctance to intervene decisively.

"It's a mystery why he did not visit when the bureaucracy is divided on communal lines and when one community can't go to another community's area.

How can this be allowed to happen? Absolutely irresponsible and unexpected behaviour from the PM," he said.

"Is it that the Indian state says that they are trying to counter these armed political groups who demand separation? This is true once the Manipur get fractured your argument for Manipur is also weakened and all kinds of calculations.

But, that is too much when you use the life and dignity and property of the citizens as a guinea pig.

I mean these are reasons that I can think of why the government of India does not act.

Otherwise they must come out".

He called the situation unprecedented in post-colonial India, with over 60,000 people left homeless due to the violence.

When asked about his decision to enter politics, Bimol explained that he was motivated by frustration with the status quo.

"I was fed up with what I saw around me.

So I thought, instead of complaining, I would join politics and take charge of it," he said.

Bimol chose the Congress party for its ideological opposition to the BJP, particularly its commitment to diversity and secularism.

He also spoke about his passion for cinema, which he has used as a medium to express his political concerns and social commentary.

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