The Manipur SoO issue has triggered fresh concern from Inner Manipur MP Bimol Akoijam, who has criticised the delay in the Centre’s response to questions he raised in Parliament.
Akoijam said he raised the matter under Rule 377 in the Lok Sabha on August 11. More than a month later, he said, the Union Home Ministry had yet to respond. He has now urged the ministry to address the matter without further delay.
Manipur SoO issue reaches Parliament
The Manipur SoO issue centres on the Suspension of Operations agreement between the government and Kuki armed groups. The Centre, the Manipur government and participating groups have used the arrangement as a framework for maintaining a ceasefire and conducting political engagement.
Akoijam used his parliamentary intervention to question the agreement’s implementation and seek greater accountability. He called for a review of the pact and action against violations where authorities establish them.
The agreement places participating armed groups under specific conditions. These include staying in designated camps and following arrangements for monitoring their weapons and activities. A Joint Monitoring Group oversees compliance with the agreed framework.
Akoijam raises alleged violations
Akoijam has linked the Manipur SoO issue to allegations of extortion, intimidation and obstruction along highways.
He has also raised allegations concerning the involvement of some SoO-linked groups in violence and killings. These claims remain allegations and require verification through investigations by competent authorities.
The MP has argued that the government should act if it finds that signatories have breached the agreement. He has also called for the Centre to review the pact and reconsider its continuation if authorities establish serious violations.
Akoijam’s intervention therefore focuses on both the agreement itself and how authorities monitor compliance on the ground.
MP seeks public disclosure
The Manipur SoO issue has also prompted Akoijam to demand greater transparency.
He has called on the Union Home Ministry to make the agreement and information about its implementation available to the public. According to his position, greater transparency would allow people to understand the obligations imposed on the signatories and assess whether the parties follow them.
He has separately urged authorities to protect national highways from alleged extortion and obstruction. Such concerns carry particular significance in Manipur, where road access and the movement of essential goods have remained sensitive issues during the conflict.
Delay draws criticism
Akoijam has now shifted attention to the government’s lack of a response.
Speaking at a press conference, he said the ministry had not replied more than a month after his parliamentary intervention. He described the delay as unfortunate and asked the Centre to respond to the questions he raised.
The MP has also questioned whether all parties to the SoO agreement continue to follow its terms. He has maintained that authorities should examine allegations against signatory groups and take appropriate action if investigations establish wrongdoing.
However, the allegations cited by Akoijam should not be treated as proven without findings from the relevant authorities.
SoO pact remains under scrutiny
The Manipur SoO issue remains closely connected to the wider debate over the state’s prolonged conflict.
Akoijam has previously questioned whether the agreement has delivered its intended results. In April 2025, he argued that authorities should assess the pact based on its outcomes and implementation.
The SoO framework has also remained a subject of political debate as the Centre and state authorities deal with competing security concerns and demands from different communities.
For Akoijam, the immediate issue is the Centre’s response to the questions he placed before Parliament. He wants the Union Home Ministry to explain its position on the agreement, its monitoring process and alleged violations.
The government’s response could provide further clarity on how it assesses compliance with the SoO framework and what action it takes when authorities establish breaches. Until that response arrives, the Manipur SoO issue will continue to draw attention in Parliament and across the state.