Correspondent
IMPHAL, Jul 12: Congress MP Dr Anomcha Bimol Akoijam on Sunday criticized both the state government and Centre for the protracted violent crisis in Manipur.
He alleged that the recent violence at Kanto Sabal in Imphal West adjoin Kangpokpi district exposed the continuing failure of both the state and central governments in handling the crisis.
He described yesterday’s incident of fresh arson of houses belonging to Meitei members in the Indian Army cantonment area as a continuation of the violent conflict that began on May 3, 2023.
Addressing a news conference, the Congress MP from Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency said the inaction and lack of coordination among the Central security forces have raised serious concerns over the government’s response to recurring incidents of violence.
He also criticized what he described as the incompetence of the Indian Army in managing the conflict, alleging that its repeated inability to prevent or contain fresh outbreaks of violence reflects a continuing failure to effectively curb conflicts as they arise in Manipur.
Referring to the recent Kanto Sabal incident, he said the situation is an “exact replica” of the events witnessed since May 3, 2023, pointing to what he termed as non-coordination among the deployed central forces and delayed intervention.
Dr Akoijam further asserted that the crisis should not be viewed solely through the lens of a Meitei-Kuki conflict.
Instead, he urged the public and policymakers to understand the broader dimensions of the crisis, arguing that reducing it to an ethnic conflict overlooks deeper issues of governance, security, and conflict management.
He also called for greater accountability and a more effective strategy to prevent further escalation of violence in the state.