Been waiting for Modi to visit for last 2 years, reminds MPCC
Make the visit more than a gesture: Cong to PM

Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 08 2025: Former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh has said that the Congress party welcomes Prime Minister Narendra Modi's proposed visit to Manipur for a few hours on September 13, but hopes it will be more than just a symbolic gesture.

Speaking to the media at his official quarter at Babupara, Ibobi, also Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader, emphasized that the party has been urging the Prime Minister to visit Manipur for over two years to address the ongoing crisis, but so far, their requests have been met with silence.

While the Prime Minister found time for numerous foreign trips and even spent a night in Assam during the crisis, he never visited Manipur, despite the State facing one of its worst crises, with people being displaced and killed, he charged.

Been waiting for Modi to visit for last 2 years, reminds MPCC

Stating that the Prime Minister could have resolved the Manipur crisis in just three days had he shown commitment during its early stages, Ibobi accused him of consistently ignoring the plight of the people of Manipur.

He also noted that there was a BJP Government in Manipur before it was placed under suspended animation earlier this year, yet the crisis continues to persist.

Reiterating that the Congress party nonetheless welcomes the Prime Minister's visit, the former three-time Chief Minister questioned whether a solution to the Manipur crisis would be announced during his brief stay in the State.

The Congress leader expressed hope that the visit will be more than a symbolic gesture.

If the recent meeting between BJP MLAs and the Governor was to discuss the Prime Minister's visit, then it undermines the sanctity of Raj Bhavan, he said and questioned whether the meeting was about ensuring the success of events at Kangla and Churachandpur, or about discussing what should be conveyed to the Prime Minister to help restore normalcy in the State.

He stated that it would be unfortunate if the BJP MLAs and the Governor focused solely on the planned events.

On the inter-community clashes that occurred during the Congress regime, he said that conflicts such as the Meitei-Meitei Pangal clash and the Kuki-Paite clash were resolved within a short period through the concerted efforts of the Government and civil society organizations.

He further noted that the Naga-Kuki clash involved armed groups and was resolved by forming a peace committee comprising leaders from both the Naga and Kuki communities.

Some politicians questioning whether the Prime Minister visited during those conflicts to take political mileage and blame the Congress party is unfortunate, Ibobi said.

To a media query, he said that the Congress party is currently deliberating whether to submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister.

The party is considering what benefits such a submission would bring, given that their numerous attempts to meet the Prime Minister even by travelling to New Delhi had not yielded results, he said.

He suggested that it would be beneficial if the Prime Minister allocates time to meet the Opposition parties during his visit to Manipur.

Continuing that the internally displaced people (IDPs) are still made to languish in relief camps, he reiterated that the crisis in Manipur could be resolved in a short span of time if the Centre shows genuine commitment.

He further stated that the crisis would not have persisted for so long if it had occurred in mainland Indian States like Gujarat or Uttar Pradesh.

Congress Working Committee member Gaikhangam, Congress chief whip Th Lokeshwar, Khangabok AC MLA Surjakumar Okram and some former Ministers and MLAs of the Congress also attended the meeting.