Manipur in Turmoil with ‘Go Back Modi’ Slogans

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News Desk: 

Two years after nearly 250 people lost their lives in Manipur, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the tense northeastern state on Saturday for the first time. However, within hours of his arrival, protests erupted, with demonstrators chanting “Go Back Modi.”

The police responded to peaceful protesters with rubber bullets and tear gas, resulting in multiple injuries.

Modi’s visit is part of a three-day tour that also includes Assam and Bihar. Bihar, India’s third most populous state with approximately 13 million people, is a key area for the upcoming elections in October or November. It is the only Hindi-speaking northern state where Modi’s party, the BJP, has not been able to secure a majority on its own.

During his visit, a total of $8 billion in investments were announced for Bihar, covering agricultural projects, railway connectivity, road development, and airport expansion.

The unrest in Manipur began in May 2023, primarily between the Hindu Meitei community and a significant Christian Kuki population, leaving thousands still living in government-run temporary camps.

Speaking in Churachandpur, a Kuki-dominated area, Modi said, “The Government of India is making every effort to normalize life in Manipur. I am here with you today. The Government of India stands with the people of Manipur,” urging all parties to maintain peace.

He was also scheduled to address a rally in Imphal, the state capital, which has a dense Meitei population.

During a previous visit in 2022, Modi inaugurated development projects worth around $960 million, including five highways and a new police headquarters.

Former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh of Modi’s BJP resigned in February following accusations of failing to prevent the bloodshed. Since then, the state has been directly administered from New Delhi.

Tensions between the Meitei and Kuki communities over land and government jobs have existed for a long time, and human rights groups allege that political leaders have exacerbated these divisions for personal gain.