Imphal, September 8: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s expected visit to Manipur on September 13, the Congress party has strongly criticised the trip, calling it a “non-visit” and an “insult” to the people of the conflict-ridden state. Congress general secretary in-charge Jairam Ramesh questioned the purpose of the visit, highlighting that the Prime Minister is scheduled to spend just three hours in Manipur.
Ramesh took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his disappointment, stating, “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?” He added that such a brief visit “is actually an insult to the people of the state who have waited for him for 29 long and agonising months,” calling it a demonstration of “callousness and insensitivity.”
The visit, if it takes place as scheduled, will be Modi’s first to Manipur since ethnic violence broke out in May 2023 between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities. The conflict has resulted in over 260 deaths and the displacement of thousands of residents.
Following the unrest, the Centre imposed President’s Rule after Chief Minister N. Biren Singh resigned, and the state assembly remains under suspended animation with its term lasting until 2027.
Congress has repeatedly criticised the central government’s delayed response to the crisis. Last week, the party described Modi’s potential visit as “too little, too late,” pointing to the prolonged absence of central attention in the aftermath of the violence.
