Modi’s Visit to Manipur: Symbolism, Skepticism, and the Weight of Expectations

Imphal/Churachandpur, September 13:For the first time since violence engulfed Manipur in May 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sets foot in the conflict-torn  state today.

His visit comes after more than two years of turmoil, hundreds of deaths, mass displacement, and the imposition of President’s Rule earlier this year following the resignation of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh.

For many Manipuris, Modi’s arrival is freighted with meaning. Relief camps still shelter thousands who lost their homes to the ethnic conflict. Entire communities remain cut off from one another, divided by buffer zones patrolled by security forces. The Prime Minister’s presence, therefore, is being read both as a long-awaited gesture of solidarity and, by some, as a belated political formality.

A Crisis That Reshaped Manipur

The unrest that erupted in May 2023 over the Manipur High Court’s directive to consider Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the Meitei community soon spiraled into one of the worst episodes of ethnic violence in decades. The clashes split the state into two hostile enclaves—Meitei-dominated valleys and Kuki-majority hills—separated by central forces.

Over 260 people have since lost their lives, thousands of homes were torched, and more than 60,000 remain displaced. Police armouries were looted, churches and temples destroyed, and in many areas, neighbours became enemies overnight. By February this year, the state government collapsed, leading to the imposition of President’s Rule.

The Prime Minister’s Pitch

In Parliament last year, Modi had claimed that violence was “steadily declining” and highlighted government efforts: 11,000 FIRs registered, 500 arrests made, schools and colleges reopened, and examinations held on schedule. He also reminded critics that Manipur had faced prolonged bouts of unrest under earlier Congress governments.

But this is the first time since the clashes that he will directly address the people on their own soil. His itinerary reflects both symbolism and strategy.

• At Churachandpur’s Peace Ground — a Kuki-majority stronghold — Modi will lay foundation stones for projects worth ₹7,300 crore.

• At Kangla in Imphal — a Meitei heartland — he will inaugurate projects worth ₹1,200 crore.

• Overall, development works worth ₹8,500 crore are on the agenda, in what the government frames as both economic stimulus and a gesture of equal outreach.

The Prime Minister will also interact with internally displaced persons (IDPs) at relief camps, a move expected to carry emotional weight. Security has been tightened, with the Army redeploying units in sensitive districts and restrictions imposed in key venues.

Political Crossfire

The visit has triggered sharp political exchanges. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi dismissed it as “no big deal,” insisting that the “real issue” was alleged vote-rigging in recent state elections elsewhere. Congress communications chief Jairam Ramesh went further, calling the trip a “farce, not a force for peace,” pointing to its brevity — less than three hours on the ground.

Within Manipur, reactions have been more nuanced. Retired Lieutenant General L. N. Singh of Imphal called it “the first stone of rebuilding.” Churachandpur community leader Ginza Vualzong described it as “historic,” while opposition politicians in the state derided it as largely symbolic. BJP leaders, however, have welcomed it as a potential turning point.

The Ethnic Divide

At the heart of the crisis lies a decades-old fault line between the valley-dwelling Meiteis, who make up about 53% of the state’s population, and the hill-dwelling tribal groups, primarily Kukis and Nagas, who together account for around 40%.

The Meiteis, largely Hindu but with Muslim Meitei Pangals among them, have long sought ST status, arguing that it would safeguard their identity. The Kukis and Nagas, mostly Christian, have opposed the demand, warning that it would open up tribal lands to settlement and erode constitutional protections.

While religion often overlays these divisions, the conflict is rooted less in faith than in competing claims over land, resources, and political power.

What Lies Ahead?

Despite periodic lulls, mistrust still runs deep. Relief camps remain filled, and families hesitate to return to their old neighbourhoods. Security forces continue to enforce buffer zones. Cross-border flows from Myanmar add layers of complexity, from migration to smuggling.

For ordinary Manipuris, Modi’s visit raises one question above all: can it help pave the way to reconciliation? Symbolism matters, but the demand is for more — a durable settlement, justice for victims, and a framework where valley and hill communities can coexist without fear.

As the Prime Minister steps onto Manipur’s soil today, the challenge is not just to inaugurate projects but to begin bridging the chasm that has torn the state apart.