Imphal: Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla convened a high-level meeting at Raj Bhavan on Sunday with senior bureaucrats and BJP leaders, including former chief minister N Biren Singh, to review key issues ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s expected visit to the state this month.
According to officials, the meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel, Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh, and Director General of Police Rajiv Singh. BJP’s state unit president A Sharda Devi was also present. While the agenda was not made public, party leaders confirmed that discussions included preparations for the Prime Minister’s likely tour.
If confirmed, this would mark PM Modi’s first visit to Manipur since ethnic violence erupted in May 2023, leaving over 260 people dead and displacing thousands from both the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities. The state has been under President’s Rule since former CM Biren Singh’s resignation, with the assembly placed in suspended animation.
PM’s Visit to Mizoram and Manipur
The Prime Minister is scheduled to inaugurate the Bairabi–Sairang railway line in Mizoram on September 13, and from there, he may fly to Imphal. However, there has been no official confirmation of his Manipur stop.
Congress Criticises “Rushed Trip”
The Opposition Congress strongly criticised the reported three-hour visit, calling it a “non-visit” and an “insult” to the people who have been waiting for the PM for 29 long and agonising months.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said on X (formerly Twitter):
“The proposed visit of the Prime Minister to Manipur on Sept 13 is being hailed by his cheerleaders. But it appears that he will be spending just about 3 hours – yes, just 3 hours – in the state. What does he hope to accomplish by such a rushed trip?”
Ramesh added that Modi’s brief stopover reflected “callousness and insensitivity” towards the suffering of Manipur’s people.
Ethnic Violence Since May 2023
Manipur has been reeling under ethnic clashes between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups for over two years. The violence has claimed more than 260 lives and displaced thousands, with relief camps still housing large numbers of affected families.
While the Centre has assured that peace talks and security measures are ongoing, many in Manipur believe the Prime Minister’s visit is crucial for confidence-building. Whether his short trip will address those expectations remains to be seen.
