When Congress MP Bimol Akoijam rose to speak about the ongoing crisis in Manipur, his words carried a biting metaphor: “What’s the GST on Manipur’s human suffering?” The remark was not a literal reference to India’s Goods and Services Tax, but a rhetorical question meant to capture the deep frustration, anguish, and sense of neglect felt by the people of Manipur more than two years into a devastating conflict.
A Crisis That Refuses to End
For over 28 months, Manipur has been reeling under waves of ethnic strife and violence. What began as sporadic clashes between communities escalated into a prolonged humanitarian crisis. Hundreds of people have lost their lives, while thousands remain displaced. Entire families live in relief camps, their homes either destroyed or rendered unsafe.
Infrastructure has crumbled in several regions. Schools and hospitals struggle to function, many highways remain unsafe, and the state’s fragile economy has taken a punishing blow. The social fabric of Manipur — long celebrated for its cultural richness and resilience — is frayed like never before.
The Prime Minister’s Visit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Manipur was seen as a long-overdue gesture. For months, critics, civil society groups, and opposition leaders had demanded his presence in the state. When the visit finally came, expectations were high that the Prime Minister would directly engage with displaced communities, announce time-bound rehabilitation plans, or at least acknowledge the scale of suffering.
Instead, the visit centered on the inauguration of development projects. To many, this felt like business as usual, as if the ongoing humanitarian crisis had been sidelined in favor of ribbon-cutting ceremonies and speeches about infrastructure.
It was this disconnect that prompted Bimol Akoijam’s sharp question.
“GST on Human Suffering” – The Symbolism
By invoking GST, Akoijam tapped into a language familiar to every Indian. Taxes represent a cost that citizens must bear; by comparing it to “human suffering,” he suggested that the people of Manipur are being forced to pay a price — not in money, but in anguish, neglect, and displacement.
His criticism implied:
- The government is treating suffering as an unacknowledged tax, one that people are paying every day.
- Instead of relief or accountability, displaced families are met with announcements and ceremonies.
- The true cost of this crisis is invisible in official statistics but very real in everyday lives.
Lack of Time-Bound Action
One of Akoijam’s strongest criticisms was the absence of concrete timelines for relief and resettlement. Thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) continue to live in temporary shelters. While civil society groups, churches, and NGOs have stepped in with food and medical aid, large-scale rehabilitation has remained slow.
The MP argued that Manipur does not need symbolic visits or promises but clear roadmaps:
- When will the displaced return to their homes?
- How will the state rebuild schools, hospitals, and roads destroyed in the violence?
- What accountability will there be for those who incited and carried out the attacks?
A Larger Political Undertone
The Congress MP’s remarks also carried a political edge. Opposition leaders have repeatedly accused the BJP-led central government of ignoring the crisis in Manipur. They argue that the Prime Minister’s long delay in visiting the state reflects both a failure of empathy and an avoidance of responsibility.
Even during the PM’s visit, critics noted that the itinerary was structured in a way that avoided direct engagement with camp residents. Akoijam described this as a “big-time insult” to the people who have suffered for over two years.
The Human Side of Statistics
Behind the political exchanges, however, lies the raw human dimension of Manipur’s suffering:
- Families torn apart by violence.
- Children who have not attended proper schools for months.
- Women facing insecurity and loss of livelihoods.
- Communities that once coexisted now living in fear and suspicion.
Akoijam’s question resonated precisely because it gave voice to this reality. By turning a technical term like GST into a metaphor for anguish, he forced the country to confront a simple truth: Manipur’s suffering cannot be quantified, and yet it continues to mount, unaddressed.
The crisis in Manipur demands more than speeches, ceremonies, or symbolic visits. It requires:
- Transparent timelines for rehabilitation.
- Concrete security measures to restore peace and rebuild trust among communities.
- Economic recovery plans tailored to displaced populations.
- Political accountability for the violence that triggered the breakdown.
Until then, Bimol Akoijam’s words will remain a haunting reminder of the disconnect between official narratives and ground realities.
“What’s the GST on Manipur’s human suffering?” is not just a question posed to Prime Minister Modi. It is a question posed to all of India: How much longer will we allow citizens of one state to live as refugees in their own land? And when will empathy and accountability replace silence and symbolism?
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