Modi Visits Manipur, Meets Kuki and Meitei Victims After 28 Months
PM Modi’s long-awaited Manipur visit sparks hope, tears, and debate—can this be the start of healing for a state scarred by 28 months of violence?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi finally visited Manipur, 28 months after the ethnic violence that tore through the state in 2023. His brief but symbolic trip covered both Kuki and Meitei regions, where he met internally displaced families, women, and children—many of whom broke down in tears while sharing their pain.
Joining Barkha Dutt on Mojo Story to decode the significance of this visit were:
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Rami Niranjan Desai, northeast scholar with the India Foundation
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Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Pradeep C. Nayar, former Director General of Assam Rifles and Manipur veteran
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W.L. Hangshing, general secretary of the Kuki People’s Alliance
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Col Shanti Kumar Sapam, retired army officer from Manipur
Hangshing called the visit “long overdue” and felt it lacked depth, as Modi skipped Kangpokpi, the worst-hit district. He stressed the community’s demand for separate administration. In contrast, Col. Sappam expressed cautious optimism, recalling his own tears for all Manipuri communities during the height of the strife, and welcomed the PM’s assurance of peace. Gen. Nayar emphasized that Modi’s presence, though late, could be a “game changer,” pointing to new road connectivity funds and backchannel dialogue between communities. Scholar Desai highlighted the strong turnout along Modi’s road journey, calling it a “ray of hope” for stability and development.
While opinions differed, all agreed the suffering of displaced families must be central to any healing process.
As Barkha Dutt concluded, Manipur’s wounds are deep, but “it is never too late to hope, and never too late to talk.” The challenge now is whether words can translate into lasting peace.
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