Congress MP from Inner Manipur, Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, has demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi apologise to the people of Manipur for the hardships they continue to face more than a year after ethnic clashes first erupted in the state. The lawmaker made his statement on September 3, as speculation grows that the Prime Minister may visit Manipur later this month.Akoijam, who has been vocal about the Centre’s handling of the crisis, insisted that any visit by the Prime Minister should not be reduced to a ceremonial gesture. “The Prime Minister should apologise to the people if he has any shame. The visit should not be a symbolic gesture but an acknowledgement of the suffering faced by the citizens,” the Congress leader said.
Manipur has remained tense since May 2023, when ethnic violence broke out between the Meitei and Kuki communities. The clashes have so far claimed at least 260 lives and displaced thousands, many of whom continue to live in relief camps with limited resources. The scale of destruction and the slow pace of reconciliation have left the state deeply scarred. The crisis eventually led to the resignation of Chief Minister N Biren Singh in February this year, prompting the imposition of President’s Rule. Despite repeated appeals from civil society groups, political leaders, and church organizations, Prime Minister Modi has yet to make an official visit to the state since the violence began.
Opposition parties, including the Congress, have frequently attacked the Prime Minister for what they call his indifference towards the state’s plight. They argue that his absence has deepened public resentment and delayed meaningful healing. Akoijam’s latest demand adds to this chorus, placing fresh pressure on the Centre to address the situation with urgency and sensitivity.According to media reports, Modi may combine his upcoming trip to Mizoram with a stop in Manipur. The Prime Minister is scheduled to arrive in Mizoram on September 12 to inaugurate the Bairabi-Sairang railway line the following day. However, senior officials of the Manipur government and state BJP leaders have clarified that there has been no official confirmation of a Manipur visit so far.
