PM Modi to oppn: Manipur returning to normal, don't add fuel to fire

NEW DELHI: Manipur is returning to normalcy, PM Narendra Modi said on Wednesday, cautioning against attempts to pour "fuel in the fire" while pointing to the state's history of social strife.
Replying to the debate on the motion of thanks on the President's address, Modi said, "Situation is normal in large parts of Manipur; schools and colleges are open and offices and business establishments have been functioning.Just like in other parts, the state held exams, which is a sign that students can have a better future. Violence has steadily declined which shows the possibility of restoration of peace and trust."
However, pointing to the volatile social equation in the state, he warned, "Those who have been trying to exacerbate matters would do well to desist... Else, they will be rejected by the people of Manipur."
The Modi govt has been accused of insensitivity towards the situation in Manipur, with the opposition faulting the PM for not visiting the state after ethnic conflagration was sparked in May 2023 by an order of the high court.
Modi rejected the charge and pointed to the history of ethnic tensions which have led to frequent eruptions of violence in the state.
PM Modi on Wednesday said the problems in Manipur predate his tenure and that the central and state govts were doing their best to restore normalcy and peace in the state.
"Those who know the history of Manipur understand that the state has a long history of social conflict. The roots of this conflict run very deep and it has affected the psyche of people there... Congress should not forget that because of these reasons, such a small state has had 10 spells of President's rule so far. Obviously, there must have been some problems, and these predate our govt," he said in Rajya Sabha.
He added that ethnic violence had broken out in 1993 as well and convulsed the state for five years.
Although the PM did not mention Congress or its members, the remark appeared to be a rebuttal of the opposition party's charge. On Tuesday, Congress had heckled the PM in Lok Sabha through his speech by citing alleged indifference towards the northeastern state.
Modi forcefully addressed the criticism, saying more than 11,000 FIRs had been registered and more than 500 arrests made in connection with the violence, emphasising that the numbers were huge, considering the size of the state. He also said efforts were under way to repair ties and authorities were engaged in the tough task of restoring communication among the smallest of social units.
He sought to remind the House that he had addressed the issue in the last session of Parliament as well, and recalled the three-day visit of home minister Amit Shah to the state just after the outbreak of violence. "Nothing of this kind had happened under any other govt," Modi said in what appeared to be a reference to the inability of home ministers under Congress govts to visit Manipur during previous instances of strife.
Modi also referred to former minister of state for home Nityanand Rai spending weeks in the state in the immediate aftermath of the conflict between two ethnic groups and the efforts being made by authorities to restore normalcy. "Today, two units of NDRF have been sent to Manipur to help with flood relief. This shows that Centre and the state govt are working in coordination," Modi said.