Guwahati: As preparations are in full swing in Imphal and Churachandpur over Prime Minister
Narendra Modi’s likely visit to Manipur on Sept 13, a wave of emotional resistance is rising from the Kuki-Zo displaced people, sending out a clear message that they will not participate in any event tied to the visit.
The Imphal Hmar Displaced People Committee, based in Churachandpur, has issued a poignant statement that captures the enduring anguish of thousands still reeling from the ethnic violence that erupted in May 2023 — “Our mourning is not yet over, our tears are not yet dried, our wounds are not yet healed — we cannot dance with joy.”
Similar sentiments were echoed by other displaced people’s groups like Eastern Vaiphei IDPs Welfare Committee and Chandel District IDP Welfare Committee.
The statement underscores the deep fractures that remain in Manipur’s social and political landscape. With over 60,000 displaced, hundreds of villages razed, and communities still living in relief camps, the wounds of conflict are far from being healed.
In another significant political declaration, the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) — the apex tribal body representing Kuki-Zo interests — stated that the Prime Minister “should be welcomed upon his visit” but, “the visit must also serve as an opportunity to press firmly for justice and recognition of the Kuki-Zo people’s collective aspirations. The community’s demand remains clear and firm — a political solution that addresses the root causes of the crisis. Temporary relief measures cannot substitute for a lasting settlement.”
The inclusion of “territorial integrity of Manipur” in the Sept 4 SoO extension agreement between the two Kuki armed umbrella groups, Centre and state, has sparked a sharp rebuttal from the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), which clarified that the pact pertains exclusively to the SoO groups and the MHA, not to the broader Kuki-Zo community.
By asserting that “separation from the Meiteis has been a lived reality since May 3, 2023,” KIM stated, “The SoO groups had earlier submitted a memorandum to the MHA, where their charter of demands clarified that the chapter on “Manipur Integrity” stands closed. In line with this, the consultation reaffirmed that the Kuki-Zo people do not recognise or uphold the idea of “Manipur Territorial Integrity” in any form.”
Preparations for Modi’s visit are reportedly underway in Imphal and Churachandpur, though the PMO is yet to confirm his itinerary. The secrecy surrounding the visit has only heightened tensions, especially as civil bodies like the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) and Kuki Inpi prepare to make their demands heard.
The development comes amid heightened tensions, with Naga groups enforcing a trade embargo from Tuesday, Meitei organizations opposing recent peace overtures, and the state still under President’s Rule.
Observers say that Modi’s visit, if confirmed, will unfold against a backdrop of ethnic fragmentation, civil resistance, and competing demands for autonomy. His engagement — who he meets, what he announces, and whether he acknowledges the fractured realities on the ground—could shape the trajectory of peace and governance in Manipur for years to come.
Prabin Kalita is a journalist at The Times of India and is curren...
Read MorePrabin Kalita is a journalist at The Times of India and is currently the Chief of Bureau (northeast). He has been reporting in mainstream Indian national media since 2001. He has been a field journalist reporting gamut of issues from India’s northeastern region and major developments in neighbouring countries like Myanmar, China, Bhutan and Bangladesh concerning India and northeastern region. He has been covering insurgency—internal and cross-border, politics, natural calamities, environment etc. He is a post-graduate in Geological Sciences from Gauhati University.
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