Imphal, January 4: Senior Congress leader and Member of Parliament Dr. Angomcha Bimol Akoijam on Sunday expressed serious concerns over the ongoing Census process and the political situation in Manipur while speaking to reporters during a function in Imphal.
Reacting to the recent notification issued by the Manipur government freezing administrative boundaries to facilitate the Census, Dr. Bimol acknowledged the importance of conducting the exercise but said there are significant issues in the way the decision has been framed and communicated.
“There is a problem in the Census itself, and there are issues that need to be simplified and genuinely addressed,” he said. “One should not push things without proper dialogue. There is a clear absence of adequate consultation to address the concerns of the people. The necessity exists, but the approach and the dimension require careful handling.”
He emphasized that political parties in the state must be consulted, adding that dialogue and trust-building are essential in a sensitive state like Manipur.
Commenting on the recent meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi to review the situation in Manipur, which included top state officials and Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Dr. Bimol said while the government has the prerogative to make decisions, questions of legitimacy remain.
“It is their prerogative to form or not form a government, but the legitimacy of such a government will not be very strong,” he said. “With barely a year left for the next election, what is really required is a mended face — a leadership that enjoys the confidence of the people.”
He stressed that Manipur needs reliable and trustworthy leadership in touch with ground realities, rather than one detached from the people. “The priority should be to express the concerns of the people and manage our own affairs in a manner that restores public trust,” he added.
