In a significant move, Inner Manipur Member of Parliament Angomcha Bimol Akoijam has formally submitted a notice for an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha. The motion calls for an immediate and urgent discussion on the severe humanitarian crisis unfolding in the state of Manipur.
Scale of the Displacement and Constitutional Violation
The core of the crisis, as highlighted by the MP, is the massive displacement of people. Over 60,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) are now facing their third consecutive winter in relief camps, unable to return to their original homes. Akoijam emphasized that this situation represents a grave violation of the Right to Housing, which the Supreme Court has affirmed as an integral part of the Right to Life under Article 21 of the Constitution.
He attributed this prolonged displacement directly to the state's failure to control violence and restore constitutional order, a concern reportedly flagged by the Supreme Court at the very beginning of the crisis. Akoijam criticized the collapse of law and order in Manipur, which has resulted in a "massive human tragedy," despite the presence of elected governments at both the central and state levels, backed by substantial security forces.
Systematic Destruction and Lack of Accountability
"Rather than ensuring that citizens and their property are protected and defended, the state chose to relocate people from their homes and residential colonies to communally marked spaces," Akoijam stated in his notice. He provided a chilling example, noting that even after the initial violence subsided, entire residential areas like Khumujamba Meitei Leikai in Churachandpur have been systematically destroyed under the administration's watch.
The MP stressed the critical need for accountability and responsibility to prevent such incidents in the future. He lamented the absence of a credible inquiry into the events. A Commission of Inquiry led by Justice Ajai Lamba was established on June 4, 2023, with a mandate to submit its report within six months. However, more than two and a half years later, the commission has yet to deliver its findings.
A Call for Legislative Oversight and Justice
Concluding his appeal, Akoijam underscored the dual need for immediate relief and long-term systemic correction. "In addition to addressing the plight of IDPs so they can return to and settle in their original homes safely and with dignity, we also need to subject the failures of the executive and the mischief of vested interests to legislative oversight by this august House," he said.
He argued that such parliamentary scrutiny is essential not only to ensure peace and justice in Manipur but also to strengthen India's constitutional democracy. The motion places the ongoing humanitarian emergency squarely on the national agenda, demanding urgent parliamentary attention and action.
