In an interview, Congress MP Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, who represents Inner Manipur, harshly criticised the Narendra Modi government for eroding the sovereignty of the Manipur state government. Akoijam’s remarks are still made at a time when Manipur has been experiencing high-level unrest since May 3 last year after sporadic incidents of violence during a rally by the All Tribals Students Union (ATS).

Congress MP Akoijam complained about the present system of governance and further accused the centre of nearly sealing the Manipur administration, which makes the state government a mere puppet. “The CM himself has said that he cannot do anything We clearly see how the autonomy of the state government is being eroded by the Centre,” said Akoijam. He pointedly accused the Manipur government of either being incapable or just indifferent to proving or projecting itself as the ruling government standing up for the welfare of the state.

The MP underlined the threat and said that it is not only an administrative problem. Akoijam exclaimed, “It’s not simply Black and White; this is a serious issue of constitutional foundations subversion.” He also accused the Centre of imposing a conditions regime without removing the State government, thus prejudicial to the federal structure between the Centre and the States.

Akoijam called on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to be more forthcoming on the issues in Manipur, which she said is experiencing violence and unrest due to deeper issues. “This erosion of structures of the federal structure can go beyond Manipur”, he cautioned. The Congress MP argued that the centre had failed to compile with people’s demands as a strategy in a bid to undermine constitutional provisions in order to gain political ground.

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