PM Modi Considering Visit to Manipur Alongside Mizoram Trip Amidst Easing Tensions
New Delhi – Prime Minister Narendra Modi is considering a visit to Manipur, potentially in conjunction with a scheduled trip to Mizoram, marking his first visit to the state since violent ethnic clashes erupted in May 2023. The potential visit,expected to be brief,would primarily involve official meetings,sources indicate.
The consideration comes as Manipur experiences a period of relative calm following months of unrest between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities. While security forces maintain a strong presence, officials report a important decrease in violence, with schools and markets reopening and displaced families beginning to return home. “The situation is calm and under control. People are trying to move on from the violence,” a senior Manipur official stated. Government sources also cite ongoing peace-building initiatives and community dialogues as contributing factors to easing tensions.
PM Modi’s absence from Manipur during the crisis has drawn criticism from opposition parties and segments of the state’s population. At least 250 people have died and over 60,000 remain in relief camps since the violence began on May 3, 2023.
In Mizoram, the Prime Minister is set to inaugurate a new rail link intended to improve connectivity between the state and the rest of India.
Manipur is currently under President’s Rule, imposed on February 13 for six months and extended on August 5 following a parliamentary resolution moved by Home Minister Amit Shah. Despite the extension, the state assembly has not been dissolved, and efforts to restore an elected government are ongoing.