The PUCL fact-finding tribunal accused Meitei groups and the Biren Singh government of abetting violence, but a Congress MP’s rejection has angered Kuki-Zo leaders.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi, August 30 – Upset with Inner Manipur Congress MP Prof. Bimol Akoijam’s sharp criticism of the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) fact-finding tribunal on Manipur, longstanding Kuki-Zo activist Kim Haokip has appealed to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to intervene, rein in his party colleague, and uphold the credibility of the report.
Haokip, who is media in-charge of the Kuki-Zo Women Forum, Delhi, has written an open letter to Gandhi, warning that Congress cannot claim to be different from the BJP if it allows its leaders to malign independent rights bodies.
In the letter, Haokip described Gandhi as “a symbol of truth, a voice of conscience, and a hope that democracy can still be restored in our nation.” She reminded him that, “You have stood against the authoritarian regime of the BJP, exposed their lies, and reminded us that India’s soul lies in justice, equality, and independent institutions.”
READ: PUCL Manipur’s Report: Desecration of Places of Worship (Part 1)
At a time when, she argued, the Election Commission, CBI, ED, and even sections of the judiciary “appear compromised or silenced,” Haokip praised the PUCL for rising “like a phoenix” to investigate the Manipur violence.
“Against all odds, PUCL fearlessly investigated and brought out the truth on the Manipur violence—a truth that points clearly towards the culpability of the Meitei organisations, the state machinery under N. Biren Singh, and the ongoing persecution of the Kuki-Zo people,” she wrote.
An Open Letter to Rahul Gandhi
Dear Rahul Gandhiji,
For many Indians, you have become a symbol of truth, a voice of conscience, and a hope that democracy can still be restored in our nation. You have stood against the authoritarian regime of the BJP, exposed their… pic.twitter.com/JELCCvZVwT— 𝗞𝗶𝗺 𝗛𝗮𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗽 (@haokipkim128) August 30, 2025
Haokip said it was “shocking” that Prof. Akoijam had ridiculed the PUCL report, dismissing it as biased and calling respected members of the body “morally bankrupt.” She added: “What is most disturbing is that he offers no facts, no evidence, and no rational counter-arguments. His rejection appears rooted only in the discomfort that the truth goes against his own community—the Meiteis—and against outfits like Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun, who stand accused of unleashing violence.”
PUCL Report and Its Fallout
Earlier this month, PUCL released a fact-finding report on the ethnic conflict in Manipur that erupted in May 2023. The report held Meitei organisations such as the Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun responsible for orchestrating attacks on the Kuki-Zo community, and accused Chief Minister N. Biren Singh’s government of enabling the violence through complicity and inaction.
READ: Opinion | With or Without PUCL, Manipur’s Ethnic Divide Is Real
While rights groups welcomed the report for documenting atrocities “despite fear and state suppression,” Akoijam dismissed it as “biased” and labelled PUCL members “morally bankrupt.” His remarks provoked backlash from activists and civil society members, who accused him of defending communal interests rather than confronting evidence.
Haokip urged Gandhi to act decisively:
- “Speak up publicly in defense of the PUCL report and its findings on the Manipur violence.”
- “Rebuke and, if necessary, expel any Congress leader—including Prof. Bimol Akoijam—who tries to suppress the truth or malign independent institutions for narrow political or communal reasons.”
- “Reassure the people of Manipur, especially the victims of this violence, that the Congress will stand with them for truth, justice, and reconciliation.”
She cautioned that Congress risked losing its moral authority if it failed to act: “Institutions like PUCL are rare in today’s India. Their voice should not be mocked—least of all by a Congress MP.”
A Test for Congress
The row comes at a delicate moment for the Congress, which has tried to project itself as a bulwark for constitutional values against the BJP’s centralising politics. Rahul Gandhi, who visited relief camps in Manipur during his Bharat Jodo Yatra, has repeatedly criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for “abandoning” the state.
But with Akoijam challenging the PUCL’s findings and Kuki-Zo forums and activists like Haokip demanding accountability, the party faces an internal conflict that could undercut its larger narrative.
Haokip closed her appeal with a pointed message: “India needs the Congress to be different from the BJP—not just another party hungry for power, but a party that puts truth above politics and justice above appeasement. We, the people of Manipur, still believe in your leadership. Let the truth prevail. Let justice be delivered.”
