Imphal, Sept 3: Lok Sabha MP Dr. Angomcha Bimol Akoijam has said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should apologise to the people of Manipur during his proposed visit to the state on September 13. Speaking to reporters at the sidelines of an event on Tuesday, the MP remarked, “If he (Modi) feels ashamed, he should apologise to the people of Manipur.”
The Prime Minister’s upcoming visit will be his first since ethnic violence broke out on May 3, 2023, between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities. The conflict has claimed over 260 lives and displaced more than 60,000 people, leaving communities segregated and unable to return to their original homes, many of which were destroyed in the unrest.
Akoijam noted that despite the apparent reduction in physical clashes, a deep sense of fear continues to grip the state, with both communities living in mistrust. While Kuki-Zo groups have been demanding a separate administration, Meitei organisations have pressed for the removal of “illegal immigrants,” accusing them of fuelling the violence.
Criticism has mounted nationally and within Parliament over the Prime Minister’s prolonged absence from Manipur during its worst crisis in decades. Preparations for Modi’s visit are underway, with events expected to take place in Imphal and Churachandpur, though the final schedule has not been confirmed.
