IT News
Imphal, Feb 7:
The People’s Alliance for Peace and Progress Manipur (PAPPM) strongly condemned the remarks made by Bimol Akoijam in the Indian Parliament on February 3, 2025, describing them as irresponsible and divisive. The organisation stated that his subsequent clarification failed to mitigate the damage and instead deepened the wounds caused by his statements. PAPPM further criticised his remarks on February 4, in which he allegedly dismissed the concerns of internally displaced persons (IDPs) by referring to them as “hired hands.” The organisation viewed these comments as an insult to those who had lost everything due to the ongoing crisis.
PAPPM accused Bimol Akoijam of equating Kuki militants with valley village volunteers by referring to both groups as armed militias. The organisation alleged that he falsely claimed the village volunteers were created by a politician for personal gain and to incite chaos in Manipur. According to PAPPM, such statements legitimised a narrative promoted by Kuki militants and their supporters, which aimed to undermine Manipur’s territorial integrity.
The organisation asserted that the valley youth had taken up arms not for political gains but to defend their lives, homes, and the state’s integrity in response to aggression from Kuki militants since May 3, 2023. PAPPM warned that Bimol’s statements carried serious political, social, security, and legal implications, arguing that his remarks sought to delegitimise the role of village volunteers and alienate those struggling in relief camps.
Furthermore, PAPPM suggested that his words had emboldened Kuki militant groups while demoralising the valley volunteers. The organisation also expressed concerns that his statements might attract external interference and misrepresent the situation at the national and international levels. PAPPM called for legal or parliamentary action against Bimol Akoijam, contending that his remarks could influence government policy in a way that weakened military operations and distorted peace efforts. Concluding its statement, PAPPM asserted that Bimol Akoijam’s remarks had betrayed the people of Manipur and demanded his resignation, stating that his actions amounted to a serious breach of trust.
