PM Modi’s Delayed Visit to Manipur: Silence, Suffering & Separate Admin Demand

PRIME MINISTER Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Manipur on September 13, soon after inaugurating Mizoram’s first train service. For many, this visit carries symbolic weight, but for the people of Manipur-- particularly the Kuki, Zomi, and Hmar communities -- it brings more questions than answers. After more than two years of devastating violence, displacement, and communal suffering, the Prime Minister’s prolonged silence has been louder than any words. His absence during the darkest chapters of Manipur’s history has left a deep wound, and this sudden visit, after years of neglect, appears less like a gesture of solidarity and more like political theatre. Before his arrival, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has hurriedly renewed the Suspension of Operations (SoO) pact with the armed groups KNO and UPF, while also striking a deal with the Kuki-Zo Council. This orchestrated timing gives the impression that Delhi is more interested in optics than genuine reconciliation or justice.

The government’s narrative is already being questioned. The PIB Delhi recently claimed that National Highway-2 has been “opened,” creating confusion among the local population. In truth, the Kuki-Zo communities never blocked the highway permanently; it has remained accessible for the movement of essential goods, though under distress. Such misleading claims paint the wrong image of the Kuki, Zomi, and Hmar people, portraying them as obstructive when they themselves are victims of displacement and violence. Meanwhile, the cultural dance and show locations -- already viral on social media -- have been announced as part of the PM’s visit. This has sparked outrage among victims who still mourn their loved ones. Many ask: how can the government expect them to dance when justice has not yet been served? This attempt to showcase “unity in diversity” through cultural programs is seen by many as a whitewashing of the tears and struggles of the Zokumar (Zomi, Kuki, Hmar) people.

The wounds remain fresh. Thousands of families continue to live in relief camps, their homes destroyed, their lands unsafe. No accountability has been delivered for the atrocities committed, nor has the Union Government addressed the humanitarian crisis adequately. Instead, by pushing for grand celebrations and cultural displays during the Prime Minister’s visit, the Government of India risks trivializing the pain of these marginalized groups. The silence of the past two years cannot simply be erased with one orchestrated visit. For many, this delayed gesture feels insulting rather than healing. It is as if the Centre is more concerned with the optics of stability and control rather than delivering genuine justice. If Modi is influenced by dominant Meitei interests -- particularly their controversial demand for Scheduled Tribe status -- his visit may inflame tensions further rather than calm them.

Equally alarming is the continuing denial of constitutional rights to the Zokumar communities. Autonomous District Council (ADC) elections, which should have been held much before the last state assembly elections, remain stalled. This deliberate neglect has left tribal governance in a state of suspension, effectively silencing the political voice of the Kuki, Zomi, and Hmar people. The lack of local governance mechanisms has deepened alienation and mistrust towards the state and central governments. When the Centre ignores such constitutional provisions and instead stages cultural showcases during the Prime Minister’s visit, it only underscores how diluted the plight of the Zokumar victims has become in the eyes of Delhi. This isn’t just about neglect -- it is about systematically undermining the democratic and constitutional rights of entire communities.

The only way forward is a bold political solution: a separate administration for the Zokumar people. This demand is not born out of sudden opportunism but out of decades of neglect, systemic discrimination, and the recent violent breakdown of coexistence. A separate administrative arrangement would provide the Kuki, Zomi, and Hmar communities with a sense of security, dignity, and self-determination that has long been denied. Anything less risks prolonging the cycle of violence and mistrust. If the Prime Minister’s visit is to carry any real meaning, it must move beyond photo opportunities and misleading announcements. It must acknowledge the pain of the Zokumar victims, address their constitutional rights, and commit to a political solution that ensures lasting peace. Only then can Manipur move towards genuine reconciliation and healing --- otherwise, this visit will remain another chapter of empty promises in a long history of betrayal.

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Here’s the list of Cultural Dance/ Show Locations

1. STC Gate – Rayburn College Student (ZSF)

2. Pearsonmun – Cultural Troupe (VA)

3. Bungmual – Cultural Troupe (VA)

4. D Phailien – Cultural Troupe (Welfare Committee)

5. Chiengkonpang (Near Royal Enfield Showroom) – YMA Cultural Troupe (YMA/VA)

6. Public Ground – Cultural Troupe of different Zomi Tribes (ZSF)

7. Rengkai Road Junction – Paite Cultural Troupe (VA)

8. Zouveng/Zou Colony – Zou Cultural Troupe (ZSP)

9. Light House Lane – Bihari, Nepali, Muslim (ZSF)

10. Sielmat Hospital Junction – Hmar Cultural Troupe (HSA)

11. Family Lane – Bijang Cultural Troupe (KSO)

12. Bijang Petrol Pump – KSO Cultural Troupe

13. LIC Office – HSA Cultural Troupe

14. DTO to Samaritan – KSO Troupe

15. Victoria’s Mart – KSO (Gangte Cultural Troupe)

16. Tuibong Traffic Point – Saltbrook School Troupe (Bharatnatyam) (KSO)

17. Happy Valley Junction – KSO Fancy Drill

18. Tuibong Petrol Pump – KSO (Mate Cultural Troupe)

19. Near Peace Ground – Hmar, Kuki, Mizo, Zomi Cultural Troupes (HSA/KSO/YMA/ZSF/ZSP)

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Editorial, KV NEWS

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