Manipur Gears Up for PM Modi‘s Visit Amidst Ongoing Ethnic tensions
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit Manipur this weekend, marking his first trip to the state since violent clashes erupted in May 2023. The 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 Prime Minister to potentially address a crowd at the historic kangla Fort in Imphal.
The planned visit includes potential stops in both Churachandpur, a Kuki-Zo stronghold, and Imphal, a Meitei-dominated area. Modi may fly to Churachandpur from Aizawl, weather permitting, before proceeding to Imphal, or vice versa.
In the lead-up to the visit, Governor Anusuya Uikey Bhalla held meetings with local representatives. On Tuesday, she met with MLAs Ngursanglur Sanate, Vungzagin Valte, L Haokip, LM Khaute and Paolienlal Haokip, along with BJP’s Churachandpur district president Thanglam Haokip. All the MLAs represent constituencies in Churachandpur and Pherzawl districts. On Sunday, Bhalla also met with at least 20 BJP MLAs from Imphal Valley, including former chief minister N Biren Singh and state BJP president A Sharda Devi.
The selective nature of these meetings has drawn criticism from the opposition Congress party. “The selective invitation undermines democratic norms and sidelines the voices of elected representatives of the people,” stated Congress leader okram Ibobi Singh, calling the meetings “a shocking display of partisanship.”
Manipur has been gripped by ethnic violence for over two years, resulting in at least 260 deaths and displacing approximately 50,000 people. The conflict initially began between the Meitei and Kuki communities and has since spread, leading to the imposition of Governor’s rule in February 2023.