Heated speech of the MP of Manipur which led to heated discussions in the parliament

Manipur Congress MP Bimol Akoijam's impassioned speech in Parliament sparked debate on the state's ongoing crisis. Prime Minister Modi responded, criticizing opposition politicization. The exchange highlighted Manipur's complex issues, including ethnic violence, displacement, and governance challenges, drawing renewed national attention to the region.

For once, the voices of Manipur representatives got heard when Congress MP Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, during the parliament session, brought into focus the current situation in the north eastern state. This was followed by a speech in the parliament by Akoijam, a professor from Jawaharlal Nehru University who touched many Manipuris with his first speech.

While addressing the house late Monday night, Akoijam called on his colleagues in the parliament to put into consideration the 60, 000 individuals in relief camps and the widows of the conflict. “The hurt, the anger has thrown a nobody like me to be a part of this temple of democracy, beating the BJP cabinet minister Think about the pain,” he said, wondering why the Prime Minister Narendra Modi remained silent on the Manipur issue.

The speech was soon shared on Manipur’s social media platforms and many people appreciated Akoijam for articulating the concern of the state well. His win over BJP sitting MP in the recent polls has been construed as a shift in the political pendulum in Manipur.

Due to Akoijam’s speech and pressure from the opposition, Prime Minister Modi spoke about the Manipur problem in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. Modi blamed the opposition for aggravating the situation and stressed on the efforts of the government for the restoration of the normalcy in the state. He also said that Manipur was under President’s rule ten times in the past, indicating that Manipur has had problems of governance for a long time.

This has raised several contentious issues affecting Manipur such as issues of illegal immigration, the suspension of the operations agreement with Kuki insurgent groups, issues of demanding the implementation of the National Register of Citizens.

Also Read: PM Modi Speaks about Manipur Issue in Rajya Sabha Speech

The ethnic conflict between the Meitei community and Kuki tribes continues, where more than 220 people have been killed and about 50 thousand have been displaced since May 2023. While the crisis persists, the recent parliamentary debates have again drawn the country’s focus to the social and political context of Manipur.