In a significant development, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh and Prime Minister Narendra Modi met face-to-face in Delhi to discuss the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur.
The meeting, which took place during Singh’s visit to Delhi for a BJP Chief Ministers’ conclave, was a high-profile, closed-door session aimed at formulating a strategy to address the crisis.
Union ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh were also present for this crucial discussion, which notably excluded other officials from both the Centre and the State, highlighting the session’s exclusivity.
The timing of the meeting is significant, coming under intense pressure from the Opposition regarding PM Modi’s perceived inaction on the Manipur issue. During a recent Lok Sabha session, Opposition members vocally criticised PM Modi, causing disruptions to his speech on the Motion of Thanks.
The BJP has placed considerable focus on Manipur recently, especially after the Congress secured both Lok Sabha seats in the State during the last general election.
Additionally, the meeting coincides with the removal of Manipur Governor Anusiya Uikey and the appointment of Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya as the acting Governor of Manipur.
The ongoing violence, which has erupted between the Meitei community, predominantly from the valley, and the Kukis, a group of nearly two dozen tribes from the hill areas, has resulted in over 220 deaths and displaced nearly 50,000 people.
The Meiteis seek inclusion in the Scheduled Tribes category, while the Kukis, who share ethnic links with communities in Myanmar’s Chin State and Mizoram, demand a separate administrative entity due to grievances over resource allocation and power disparities.
