Manipur Gears Up for PM Modi‘s Visit Amidst Ongoing Ethnic tensions
Prime Minister โขNarendraโ Modi isโฃ expected to visit Manipur this weekend, โmarking โhis first trip to the state since violent clashes erupted in May 2023. โคThe visit comes as the Kuki-Zo community has approved the reopening of National Highway 2 following talks with the ministry of Home Affairs. Preparations are underway for the โฃPrimeโ Minister to potentially address a crowd at the historic kangla Fort inโข Imphal.
The planned visit includesโข potential โstops in both Churachandpur, a Kuki-Zo stronghold, and Imphal, a Meitei-dominated area. Modi may โขfly to Churachandpur from Aizawl, weather permitting, before proceeding to Imphal, or viceโข versa.
In the lead-up to the visit, Governor Anusuya Uikey Bhalla held meetings with local representatives. On Tuesday, she metโ with MLAs Ngursanglurโ Sanate, Vungzagin Valte, L Haokip,โค LM Khaute โฃand Paolienlal Haokip, along with BJP’s Churachandpur district president Thanglam Haokip. All โthe MLAsโ represent constituencies in Churachandpur and Pherzawl districts. โOn Sunday, Bhalla also met โwith at โฃleast 20 BJP MLAs from โImphal Valley, โฃincluding former chief ministerโ N Biren Singh and stateโข BJP president A Sharda Devi.
The selective nature of these meetings has drawn criticism from the opposition Congress โฃparty. “The selective invitation โundermines democratic norms and sidelines the voices of โelected representativesโฃ of the people,” stated Congress leader okram Ibobi Singh, calling โthe meetings “a shocking โdisplay of partisanship.”
Manipur has been gripped by ethnic violence for over two years, resulting in at least 260 deaths and displacing approximately 50,000 โขpeople. The conflict initially โคbegan between the Meitei and Kuki communities and โคhas since spread, leading to the imposition of Governor’s rule in February โค2023.