Imphal: Manipur’s Lok Sabha MP, Dr. Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, strongly criticized the BJP-led Central government, urging its leadership to halt the ongoing balkanization of the Northeast along ethnic lines. Speaking at a function on Sunday, Dr. Bimol warned that India must learn from history, recalling how divisive policies based on communal and ethnic identities led to the country’s partition at the time of independence.
Referring to the 1956 State Reorganisation Commission report, which recommended against implementing a “one state, one language” policy, he argued that India is a union of diverse linguistic, religious, and racial identities formed for administrative convenience. He questioned why, despite this principle, the Northeast should be subjected to separatist politics based on ethnic exclusivity. Creating separate administrations or Union Territories on such grounds would open a Pandora’s box, he cautioned.
Dr. Bimol emphasized that India’s stability hinges on upholding its core values—opposing communalism and resisting the creation of states based on religious or ethnic identities. He stressed that protecting Manipur is not about seeking special favors but about adhering to these fundamental principles.
The Congress leader also defended the Meitei community’s call for peaceful coexistence, clarifying that it is not a sign of weakness but an appeal for unity among all communities. He lamented that persistent ethnic divisions have prevented the region from establishing a common ground for collective security.
The Northeast needs leadership that unites people for the greater good, he said, rejecting claims that Meitei advocacy is about dominance or self-interest. Leaders in the hill regions must recognize the significance of this unity, he added.
Dr. Bimol further urged the people of Manipur to reject divisive and ethnic-based politics to safeguard the state’s integrity and harmony.
