PM Modi’s Manipur Visit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is getting ready to travel to Manipur on September 13 for the first time in more than two years of ethnic strife. His visit coincides with a new Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement between the Center, the Manipur government, and Kuki organizations, which marks the beginning of fresh peace efforts. Will this, however, be sufficient to mend the severe wounds caused by violence?
Expectations and anger on both sides
Meitei groups in the Imphal Valley harbor animosity toward the SoO accord because they see it suspiciously. Speaking anonymously, a Meitei leader described it as a “one-sided decision” that was made without considering all relevant parties. He cautioned that “the government must bring both populations together if it truly wants peace.”
Meanwhile, the Kuki side is sad but cautiously optimistic. According to a female leader of the Kuki Students’ Organization, “we have been asking a separate administration from the beginning, but the government has given us what we already have.” The rioting caused thousands of homes to be destroyed. What long-term remedy has been proposed for them?
Nonetheless, a lot of people in the Kuki belt applaud Modi’s visit to Churachandpur because they believe it acknowledges their complaints.
How was an agreement reached by the central government?
According to Kukis, our demand for “separate administration” persisted even after the agreement.
Meetings with Kuki organizations for peace in Manipur have been going on since 2024. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a Kuki leader who attended these sessions stated, “We talked multiple rounds with the central government.” Although we have been calling for “independent administration”—that is, autonomy from the state—since the outset, we have accepted this arrangement for the time being. But there is still much more to be done; this is only the beginning.
Kuki organizations have been calling for their separation from the state of Manipur and the establishment of a “separate administration” since the unrest started in May 2023. This was not approved, though. This proposition has also been met with strong opposition from the Meitei people. To them, it is a means of splitting the state.
The Kuki group ITLF’s spokesman, Ginja, has also participated in the negotiations with the government to reach the accord. “This agreement talks about finding a political solution within a specified time,” Ginja explains. Thus, we believe that the Kuki people will benefit from this.
Will Manipur experience peace as a result of the arrangement with the government? Regarding this, Ginja states, “We expect that the situation will be better than it was before the agreement, but it won’t change overnight.” Only when political demands are resolved will the peace process be completed.
On condition of anonymity, a female leader of the Kuki Student Organization states: “Different reactions are being seen in Kuki districts about the SoO agreement.” This is far less than what we had anticipated from the federal government.
We have demanded a separate administration since the outset, but the government provided us with what we already had. Thousands of our homes were destroyed by this violence, and thousands of people lost their homes, but what is being done to ensure their long-term peace? The largest question for which we have yet to receive a response is this one. We’re holding out for this.
