PM Modi’s First Visit to Manipur Since Ethnic Clashes Met with Public Apathy

Over two years after ethnic violence broke out in Manipur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit the troubled state on September 13, marking his first trip since the conflict began in 2023. However, for many affected residents, especially those displaced by the violence, the visit brings little hope or expectation.

According to reports, the Prime Minister is likely to address two public rallies—one in Imphal, the state capital, and another in Churachandpur, a district that has seen some of the worst violence.

Ahead of the visit, Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla met with five Kuki-Zo MLAs in Churachandpur on Tuesday, signalling the government’s outreach to key community leaders. PM Modi is expected to arrive in Manipur after visiting neighbouring Mizoram.

Security arrangements are being tightened in Churachandpur, where he is likely to address a crowd largely made up of the Kuki-Zo community on Saturday afternoon.

The Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) has issued a statement welcoming the Prime Minister, calling the visit a “historic and rare occasion”—noting that it’s the first visit by a sitting Indian Prime Minister in nearly four decades. The Council also repeated its long-standing demand for a separate administration under Article 239A of the Constitution, citing the need for “peace, security, and survival.”

The KZC highlighted the loss of over 250 lives since violence erupted in May 2023, blaming the majority Meitei community for the attacks.

However, not all share the Council’s optimism.

Maktoob, a media outlet, spoke to several displaced residents—both Kuki and Meitei—who expressed frustration and indifference toward the visit.

A displaced Kuki woman, who lost her home and livelihood in Imphal, said:

“The wars are long over. What’s left behind are just our personal losses.”

A Meitei family, also displaced, said they “think nothing” of the Prime Minister’s upcoming trip.

The sentiment is echoed by Siam Phaipi, a Supreme Court lawyer and Churachandpur native, who lost both his home and a school built by his father during the violence.

“Nothing will change with this visit. For over two and a half years, no practical solution has been offered. The government is just trying to show that things are back to normal—on paper,” Phaipi said.

He also criticised some local leaders, accusing them of focusing more on appeasing Delhi than seeking justice for their people.

“I’m asking my people to stay home, carry on with their lives, and maintain their dignity—especially in memory of those we’ve lost,” he added.

As Prime Minister Modi prepares to visit a state still deeply divided and scarred by violence, many residents believe that real peace will require more than symbolic gestures and political speeches.

Source: Maktoob