PM Modi’s Manipur Visit: Perfect Optics, But Silence on Core Issues

Reiterating the fact that his government was being inspired by Manipuri personalities, PM Modi Saturday added that he said violence in the state was a pity. As he was giving his speech in Imphal, he remembered the role played by the soldiers in the operation called Sindoor and mentioned that the valour of several gallant sons and daughters of Manipur are also part of this Indian success. During his first visit to the state since the outbreak of ethnic violence almost two years ago, the PM noted that the violence is a great injustice to our ancestors and our future generations, and emphasized on the need to move Manipur ahead along the road of peace and development.

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At the Imphal stage, Modi also addressed the political unrest in Nepal and gave a message to the youth in the neighbouring country.

Earlier in the day the PM had visited the Churachandpur district of Manipur and had interacted with people displaced by the ethnic violence and had also laid the foundation stone of development projects. “From the last few days, young men and women of Nepal can be seen cleaning and painting the roads of Nepal with great hard work…Their positive thinking and positive work are not only inspiring but are also a clear indication of the new rise of Nepal. I wish Nepal all the best for its bright future.”

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Why the visit is significant: Although his visit has been received by the Meiteis and the Kuki-Zo, they have expressed themselves in opposing terms. And although the Kuki-Zos have demanded a separate state or Union Territory, an exercise resembling the NRC has been demanded by a Meitei group as a measure to identify illegal immigrants and rectify what it considers to be an undesirable demographic imbalance.

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