Imphal, September 12: Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee president Keisham Meghachandra on Friday described Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to the state as “merely symbolic” and “not intended to bring peace or ensure justice.” This will be Modi’s first visit to Manipur since the outbreak of ethnic violence over two years ago.
Scheduled for Saturday, the Prime Minister is expected to inaugurate projects worth ₹8,500 crore. However, Meghachandra said the visit falls short of addressing the real concerns of the people, including internally displaced persons living in relief camps. “The people, who have been suffering for months, had expected a concrete roadmap for peace, rehabilitation, and justice,” he said in a video message.
The state Congress chief criticised the lack of dialogue with all stakeholders ahead of the visit, calling it “hollow” and a show of “mere symbolism.” He also cited reports of frustrated locals in Churachandpur destroying banners and cut-outs put up in connection with the Prime Minister’s visit.
“There has been no attempt to bring peace, as well as ensure free movement. This visit is not aimed at bringing peace and ensuring justice,” Meghachandra added. Opposition parties have repeatedly criticised the Centre for not visiting the state promptly after the ethnic strife between the Kuki and Meitei communities, which left over 260 people dead and thousands homeless since May 2023.
