The northeastern state has faced intense divisions since May 2023 following violent outbreaks between the predominantly Hindu Meitei community and the largely Christian Kuki population.
Published On 13 Sep 2025
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made his inaugural visit to the troubled state of Manipur, where over 260 lives have been lost to ethnic violence in the past two years.
Since May 2023, Manipur has been marred by conflict between the Hindu Meitei majority and the predominantly Christian Kuki community, leading to significant societal fractures.
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This turmoil has resulted in the displacement of tens of thousands, many of whom are currently residing in government-established makeshift camps.
“To restore normalcy in Manipur, the Indian government is committed to taking all necessary measures,” Modi declared before a large audience in Churachandpur, a town with a Kuki majority, on Saturday.
“I assure you that I stand with you. The government of India supports the people of Manipur,” he emphasized, urging all communities to choose a peaceful resolution for their aspirations.
Modi also planned to hold a rally in Imphal, the capital predominantly inhabited by the Meitei.
This visit marks Modi’s first return to the region since a 2022 trip, during which he inaugurated over $960 million worth of development initiatives, including five highways and a new police facility.
In February, Manipur’s former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, from Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), stepped down amid backlash for his handling of the violence. The state, home to nearly three million residents, is now administered directly from New Delhi.
Long-standing tensions between the Meitei and Kuki communities stem from competition over land and public sector employment, with rights organizations accusing politicians of exacerbating these divides for personal gain.
Modi’s visit to Manipur is part of a three-day tour that also includes Assam, which borders Bangladesh, and Bihar, a state with a population of over 130 million that is key in upcoming elections.
Bihar is the only state in North India’s Hindi-speaking region where Modi’s BJP hasn’t governed alone, and he plans to announce an $8 billion investment package covering agricultural enhancements, transportation upgrades, and new infrastructure projects during this tour.