KSO-GHQ Condemns MP Bimol Akoijam’s Remarks on Hill Areas Committee

The Kuki Students’ Organisation General Headquarters (KSO-GHQ) has strongly condemned recent remarks made by Member of Parliament Angomcha Bimol Akoijam questioning the relevance and existence of the Hill Areas Committee (HAC) in the Manipur Legislative Assembly.

In a statement issued on Monday, the student body said it was “surprising and disappointing” that a public representative of Akoijam’s academic standing would question the constitutional and historical basis of the committee established under Article 371C of the Constitution of India.

The organisation alleged that the MP’s remarks regarding hill areas, tribal land, forest rights, and constitutional safeguards for tribal communities reflected either a misunderstanding of the constitutional framework governing Manipur or an attempt to undermine protections meant for indigenous tribal communities in the hill districts.

According to KSO-GHQ, the constitutional safeguards granted to Scheduled Tribes in Manipur are part of a broader constitutional structure designed to protect the unique historical and socio-political realities of Northeast India. It pointed out that provisions such as Article 371A of the Constitution of India protecting customary laws and land rights in Nagaland and Article 371G of the Constitution of India safeguarding similar rights in Mizoram demonstrate the constitutional recognition of indigenous governance systems. The organisation also cited Article 371B of the Constitution of India and Article 244A of the Constitution of India as examples of provisions addressing tribal administrative realities in Assam.

KSO-GHQ stated that when Manipur attained statehood in 1972, Article 371C was incorporated specifically to safeguard the customary land ownership systems of tribal communities in the hill areas, particularly since land falls under the State List. It noted that land in these areas has traditionally been collectively owned and governed through customary tribal institutions, forming the foundation of tribal identity, culture, and livelihood.

The Hill Areas Committee, the organisation said, was created to ensure that legislation affecting the hill districts—especially matters related to land and forests—cannot be enacted without the participation and consent of elected representatives from Scheduled Tribe communities.

The student body warned that attempts to dilute or question such constitutional safeguards raise serious concerns and could undermine protections for indigenous tribal communities.

KSO-GHQ further stated that the issue concerns all tribal communities living in the hill districts of Manipur and should not be viewed as a matter affecting only one group. It also claimed that political differences among parties often become secondary when issues concerning tribal land and rights arise.

Highlighting the fragile inter-community relations in the state, the organisation urged public leaders to exercise caution in their statements to avoid deepening mistrust among communities.

The organisation called on MP Bimol Akoijam and the Indian National Congress to issue an immediate clarification regarding their stance on constitutional safeguards for hill areas, customary tribal land ownership systems, and the implications of extending Scheduled Tribe status to communities outside the recognised tribal groups of Manipur.

Reaffirming its position, KSO-GHQ said it remains committed to defending the constitutional rights, ancestral lands, and identity of tribal peoples in Manipur, adding that such rights are the rightful inheritance of indigenous communities and will be protected with “unity, vigilance, and resolve.”