For more than two years, Manipur has been burning in silence. The violence that began in May 2023 between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities continues to harm the state. Thousands of families have been displaced, homes reduced to ashes, and entire communities forced into relief camps. Yet, through all this pain, the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, has not visited Manipur even once.

Now, reports suggest that PM Modi may finally visit Manipur in the first week of September 2025. If confirmed, it will be his first-ever visit to the violence-hit state since the crisis began. But the question that haunts many is simple: Why did it take two years?

Over the past few months, Prime Minister Modi has made high-profile foreign trips, including visits to Japan and China, to sign billion-dollar deals, strengthen strategic partnerships, and hold talks with world leaders. These visits show India’s global ambitions and the government’s focus on international diplomacy.

But while PM Modi was shaking hands with Xi Jinping in China and signing trade agreements in Tokyo, Manipur’s people were waiting in vain. Their homes burnt, their children dropped out of schools, their fields lay abandoned, and they wondered: Does our prime minister not see us?

This is not just about showing face; it is about priorities. If the leader of the world’s biggest democracy can meet foreign leaders, he should also meet his own people who are suffering.

The Prime Minister’s silence on Manipur has been one of the most painful aspects of this crisis. Since the violence broke out in May 2023, not a single meaningful statement has come from him directly addressing the people of Manipur. Even when opposition MPs demanded answers in Parliament, PM Modi’s response was minimal and vague.

Meanwhile, the situation in the state worsened. Women and children were forced into relief camps with no certainty about the future. The media barely covered the scale of destruction, and the Parliament avoided detailed debates. For Manipur, it felt like the rest of India had turned its back.

On February 13, 2025, Manipur was placed under President’s Rule after Chief Minister N. Biren Singh resigned suddenly. This was a major political development, but even then, the silence continued.

Normally, when a state faces such severe issues, central leaders rush to visit, review, and reassure. But in Manipur, the Centre quietly managed the law and order through Article 355, letting the state government carry the burden of blame. Only when the situation grew unmanageable did the Centre step in with President’s Rule. By then, the trust of the people had been broken. This delay gave the impression that political strategy mattered more than people’s suffering.

The crisis began with the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Already politically dominant, Meiteis make up 64% of Manipur’s population and control 40 of 60 Assembly seats. If granted ST status, they would gain access to jobs, education quotas, and land rights reserved for tribal groups.

The Kuki and Naga tribes, who inhabit the hill regions covering 90% of the state’s land but form just 35% of the population, saw this as a direct threat to their survival. Their protests turned violent after the Manipur High Court’s April 2023 order asking the government to consider the Meitei demand.

Since then, Manipur has seen killings, fires, and growing conflicts. Thousands live in relief camps, and many villages are empty.

The human cost of delay

For two years, the people of Manipur have lived in fear. Families are broken, children cannot go to school, and people have lost their jobs and homes. Relief camps are crowded, help is limited, and the pain is very deep.

The absence of the Prime Minister in such a scenario sends a dangerous message: that some parts of India matter less than others. People naturally ask: If this were Delhi or Gujarat, would the response have been the same?

Global vs Local: What matters more?

Prime Minister Modi is known for his powerful speeches on global platforms. He has spoken about climate change, terrorism, trade, and India’s rise as a global power. But when it comes to Manipur, the silence has been deafening.

Foreign policy and trade deals are undoubtedly important. But should they come at the cost of ignoring domestic crises? What does it say about a leader if he has time for Xi Jinping in Beijing but not for the families of Manipur who have been waiting two years for his presence? Leadership is not only about signing deals abroad; it is also about standing with your people in their darkest hours.

Preparations begin, but questions remain

Now, with preparations underway for a possible September visit, officials in Manipur are scrambling to arrange a “grand welcome” for the VVIP. Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel has already chaired meetings to ensure the visit is smooth.

But people are asking: will this visit be merely symbolic? Or will it bring real solutions? Will the Prime Minister finally speak directly to the people of Manipur, listen to their pain, and present a roadmap for peace?

Manipur is not a distant corner to be ignored; it is an integral part of India. Yet, the lack of attention from both the government and the media makes it feel forgotten. The violence has lasted longer than anyone expected, and the suffering continues with little relief.

If the Prime Minister does finally visit in September 2025, it will mark a turning point. But for many, it will also be a reminder of two lost years, two years when their cries went unheard.

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