As per reports, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held his first face-to-face meeting with Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh since ethnic-religious violence erupted in the northeastern state over 14 months ago. The meeting, which took place in New Delhi on Sunday, was also attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
Media outlets reported that the closed-door session was specially scheduled to discuss the Centre and state's plans and roadmap for a possible solution to the ongoing crisis in Manipur. The meeting, which reportedly "ended on a positive note," comes amidst mounting pressure from opposition parties and the public over the PM's perceived silence on the Manipur issue.
Singh, who was in Delhi for the past two days prior to the meeting, had earlier met the Modi during two group meetings - the NITI Aayog meeting and a gathering of Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states. However, this one-on-one interaction marks a crucial step in addressing the volatile situation in Manipur.
The northeastern state has been grappling with ethnic-religious violence between the tribal and largely Christian Kuki-Zo and the largely Hindu Meitei communities since 3 May 2023. The clashes have resulted in at least 221 deaths and the internal displacement of more than 60,000 people. The conflict stems from deep-rooted social tensions, with the Meiteis seeking inclusion under the Scheduled Tribes category, while nearly two dozen tribes known as Kukis are demanding a separate administrative unit carved out of Manipur, citing discrimination and unequal share of resources and power.
The timing of this high-level meeting is particularly noteworthy, coinciding with a change in Manipur's gubernatorial leadership. On the same day, Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey was removed from her post, and the newly appointed Governor of Assam, Lakshman Prasad Acharya, was given additional charge of the state.
Modi’s engagement with the Manipur CM comes in the wake of the recent general elections, where the opposition Congress party won both Lok Sabha seats in the state. This outcome has intensified the BJP's focus on Manipur and underscored the urgency of addressing the ongoing crisis.
In Parliament, the Manipur issue has been a flashpoint, with opposition members interrupting PM Modi's speech on the Motion of Thanks following President Droupadi Murmu's joint address. The Congress party, in particular, has been vocal in its criticism, questioning whether Singh had invited the PM to visit Manipur "either before or after his trip to Ukraine."
It is worth noting that on 6 July, PM Modi made one of his first detailed remarks on the Manipur situation in Parliament. Addressing the Rajya Sabha, he stated that efforts were underway to bring peace to the region, acknowledging that history suggests the "social tensions" in the state are deep rooted.
The meeting between Modi and Singh has sparked speculation and raised questions from opposition leaders. Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh sought clarification on whether the CM had met Modi "separately one-on-one" to discuss the situation in Manipur.
