Anticipated visit unlikely to have any impact: Cong MLA
'All MLAs should be invited for a talk'
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 06 2025: The Prime Minister of the country is likely visiting Manipur in the coming days, but it is expected to bring no real change on the ground, MLA Th Lokeshwar has said.

The PM's intention and the purpose of his likely visit is not clear.

His visit sans any proper planning and meeting with the elected representatives of the State beforehand may not yield any result, Lokeshwar said in a video message.

For the PM's visit to the State to have any meaningful results, Lokeshwar said Modi should invite all the elected MLAs to a meeting and sincerely discuss the issues and grievances facing the State and its people.

If a meeting of all the elected MLAs is called by the Prime Minister before his visit, it would allow the elected MLAs to submit suggestions that would help resolve issues, Lokeshwar said.

While such a meeting has not been called, the PM's proposed visit seems to be lacking in objectives.

He is expected to visit Churachandpur first and "ignore" places like Kangpokpi, Kakching and other conflict affected areas.

The PM may assure one thing in Churachandpur and other things here in Imphal.

In absence of proper coordination with the elected MLAs, who are the representatives of the people here, his visit is bound to bring no positive outcome, Lokeshwar said.

For the PM's visit to be meaningful, the elected MLAs and the people must unite as one and press the PM not to leave without resolving the crisis, he added.

Lokeshwar also commented on the extension of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement and the opening of the National Highway-02.He said the opening of the National Highway is "superficial" The NH-02 was declared open to allow free movement of vehicles and commuters in Delhi on September 4 with the signing of an agreement between the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) .

Lokeshwar said, the Highway is said to be open, but no Meiteis are allowed to travel on the Highway and cross "buffer zones".

The opening of the highway is just another "illusion" for people to believe in.

The MLA then criticised the State BJP leaders and its MLAs for remaining silent when the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement was extended.

Notably, a tripartite meeting between the Government of India, Government of Manipur and Kuki militant groups�Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and the United People's Front (UPF) was held on September 4 and the SoO agreement was extended based on "re-negotiated ground rules" .

The Government, before the President's Rule, led by N Biren Singh abrogated the SoO agreement in 2023 .

A Cabinet decision to this effect was taken on March 10, 2023 .

Later, the State Legislative Assembly unanimously resolved to urge the Centre to scrap the agreement on February 29, 2024 .

However, while the SoO agreement has been extended, the BJP leaders and their MLAs have remained silent, he said.

The SoO agreement has been extended against the will of the people, yet the BJP leaders and their MLAs haven't spoken a word against it, Lokeshwar said.

While the SoO has been extended, Lokeshwar asserted the complete agreement containing all the details of the contents has not been released to the public.

While the Preamble and some parts of the agreement have been released and published by the media, the complete contents of the agreement have not been released, he said, asking the Centre and the State to release the complete agreement within 2 days.

Further, the SoO agreement reportedly has a provision to physically verify cadres of the SoO militant groups and de-list foreign Nationals.

However, no step is seen taken up to this effect, Lokeshwar said.

The chairman of a SoO militant group is said to be a foreign National.

But, nothing is seen done to remove him and cadres like him, he asserted, demanding an "answer" from die Centre within 2 days.

Lokeshwar was referring to PS Haokip, the chairman of the Kuki National Organisation (KNO).

Ex-Chief Minister, N Biren Singh had claimed that PS Haokip hails from Myanmar.

Before 2017, the SoO agreement was effective and the Joint Monitoring Group was monitoring the militant groups and their bases every month, Lokeshwar said.

At the time, the militant groups had no real strength.

They weren't demanding anything from the Government.

However, post 2016, and after the conflict broke out in Manipur in 2023, the SoO militants gained strength, and they began making demands, Lokeshwar said.

PS Haokip, the chairman of the KNO has claimed of helping the BJP win the elections after assurance was given to them by the latter to give them their demands, he added.

The SoO agreement was first signed as a tripartite agreement in 2008.17 years later, nothing is known about the number of cadres of the different outfits, Lokeshwar said.

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