Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Manipur Saturday for his first visit to the violence-hit state since ethnic clashes broke out in May 2023.
The visit comes amid a fragile calm on the ground and persistent criticism from the Opposition over what they call the government’s initial silence and hesitance in dealing with the crisis. With Manipur still under President’s Rule and peace talks delicately balanced, Modi’s words and actions during the trip will be closely scrutinised.
Silence and outrage
When the conflict between the Meitei community in the Imphal valley and Kuki-Zo groups in the surrounding hills erupted in May 2023, the Centre faced criticism for failing to respond quickly. The violence spiralled. In July that year, disturbing videos of women being paraded naked triggered nationwide outrage.
On July 20, 2023, before the Monsoon Session of Parliament, Modi broke his silence and said: “As I stand among you in the temple of democracy, my heart is filled with sorrow and anger over the incident in Manipur… 140 crore citizens are feeling ashamed… What has happened to the daughters of Manipur can never be forgiven.”
The next day, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told the Lok Sabha that the situation in Manipur is “very sensitive”. “Whatever happened has put the whole country to shame. Strictest action should be taken,” Singh said.
The issue dominated the no-confidence debate in August 2023. Home Minister Amit Shah, speaking in the Lok Sabha on August 9, said: “No one can agree with the violence in Manipur, no one can support these incidents, but doing politics on these incidents is more shameful… Violence in Manipur is situational racial violence, and it should not be made into a political issue.”
Replying to the motion the next day, Modi assured that “peace will definitely prevail in the near future”. “Manipur will once again move forward with a new confidence,” the PM said.
A year later, on July 3, 2024, while replying to the Motion of Thanks in the Rajya Sabha, Modi emphasised reconciliation.
“The central and state governments are tirelessly striving to promote peace and harmony through dialogue with all stakeholders. This monumental task involves delicately weaving together small units and components of society, and it is progressing peacefully… It is our collective responsibility to rise above political differences and stabilise the situation.”
President’s Rule and its aftermath
Despite the government’s assurances, the violence and political uncertainty deepened. In February 2025, Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned under pressure and the Centre imposed President’s Rule in the state. Former Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla was appointed Governor to oversee a reset in security and governance.
On April 4, 2025, Shah defended the move in the Rajya Sabha, arguing that there had been other instances of violence in Manipur.
“This is not the first time ethnic violence has occurred in Manipur. There was a five-year Naga-Kuki conflict (1993-1998) that resulted in 750 deaths; sporadic incidents continued for a decade… The then Prime Minister did not visit Manipur during these past violent incidents.”
The government argued that direct federal oversight was necessary to prevent further deterioration and to build confidence across both communities. Since then, the Centre has presented President’s Rule as a stabilising measure.
Earlier this August, as Parliament approved an extension of President’s Rule beyond August 13, Nityanand Rai, the Minister of State for Home, said violence had ebbed since the imposition of President’s Rule.
“A rift was created between two communities in Manipur due to an order of the High Court related to a dispute on reservations. Those who say it is religious violence are wrong… Since President’s Rule was imposed, only one incident of violence has been reported… As soon as the situation normalises, President’s Rule will be lifted immediately.”
Security overhaul
One of the earliest steps after the violence was the appointment of retired CRPF chief Kuldiep Singh as Security Advisor to the Chief Minister and as head of a new “Unified Command” to coordinate security agencies. Rajiv Singh, a Tripura-cadre IPS officer, was appointed state police chief in a bid to signal impartiality.
Thousands of Central forces were deployed. The Unified Command brought together state police, central paramilitary and Army inputs, while the CBI and NIA took up sensitive conspiracy and terror cases. The result was a decline in major clashes, and recovery of many of the weapons looted from police armouries during the initial chaos.
Dialogue and peace talks
With the imposition of President’s Rule, the Centre initiated structured talks with both sides. Negotiations with Kuki militant groups, whose Suspension of Operations (SoO) pact had lapsed, resumed in July this year. This led to a renegotiated agreement with stricter verification norms, withdrawal of fringe camps, and accountability in fund use.
In parallel, the government has engaged with Meitei civil bodies such as Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) and Federation of Civil Society Organizations (FOCS) in an attempt to bridge divides over buffer zones, free movement, and separate administration demands.
Efforts to reopen National Highway-02, the state’s lifeline, have been a focus. Free flow of goods and travel is seen as essential to restoring confidence.
Last year, the government signed a peace pact with the outlawed United National Liberation Front (UNLF), moving cadres into designated camps in the valley — a breakthrough in Manipur’s insurgency history.
Alongside security operations, relief for affected families has included ₹ 5 lakh compensation to the kin of the deceased, rehabilitation for damaged property, and aid to the displaced. Civil society and humanitarian groups have been engaged in relief camps, while the Centre has promised steady supply of food and essentials.
The optics of the PM’s visit
For Modi, the upcoming visit carries political and symbolic weight. His absence from Manipur since the outbreak has been a persistent line of attack from the Opposition, which has accused him of “abandoning” the state in its worst crisis in decades. By travelling now, more than two years after the first clashes, the Prime Minister seeks to project a narrative of restored calm and reinforce the Centre’s role as guarantor of peace.
The government is likely to highlight progress under President’s Rule — the fall in violence, resumption of peace talks, and renegotiated militant pacts — as markers of its commitment. Yet challenges remain: deep ethnic mistrust, demands for separate administration from Kuki groups, Meitei fears of territorial division, and ongoing humanitarian distress among the displaced.