A big disappointment: Ibobi on PM's visit
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 13 2025: Former Chief Minister Okram.

Ibobi Singh has stated that there was nothing significant about Prime Minister Narendra Modi' s brief visit to the State, as he left after inaugurating a few projects that were already 70-80 per cent completed during the Congress regime.

Addressing the media at his quarters at Babupara today, Ibobi, also the CLP leader, continued that the Prime Minister's visit was a major disappointment, as he failed to address the people's aspirations for restoring peace in the State.

Asserting that the Prime Minister didn't say anything concrete and meaningful to resolve the protracted crisis other than inaugurating a few projects and laying foundation stones for others, Ibobi questioned the very purpose of the visit.

A big disappointment: Ibobi on PM's visit

The outcome of the Prime Minister's visit contradicts the BJP MLAs' claim that peace would be restored in Manipur, he said and added that all hopes pinned on the visit have been shattered.

Saying that Manipur's economy has worsened significantly since the BJP came to power, likening it to a patient in the ICU, he dared the BJP to declare that the State's economy is in good condition.

There was nothing to expect from the Prime Minister and all hopes pinned on him have been shattered, he reiterated.

The former Chief Minister further said that merely visiting the State for a few hours and leaving after inaugurating some projects is not what the people wanted or expected.

Continuing that the Prime Minister also didn't bring any roadmap to resettle the Meetei and Kuki internally displaced people (IDPs) who have been languishing in relief camps for the past 28 months, the former Chief Minister maintained that the Central Government treating the people of Manipur however they want is unacceptable.

People had hoped the Prime Minister would present a roadmap to end the crisis, butthat expectation has been belied, Ibobi said.

Saying that the Congress party has been questioning the Centre's handling of the crisis in Manipur, he maintained that the Prime Minister foiled to mention anything about ensuring free movement along the highways, resettling the IDPs and safeguarding Manipur's territorial integrity.

The former CM went on to state that the Prime Minister didn't announce an extra financial package for the IDPs.

Stating that the Congress party welcomes the concerns shown by the Prime Minister during tragedies or calamities in other States and beyond, Ibobi expressed a desire for the Prime Minister to show similar concern for the IDPs in Manipur as fellow Indians.

If the Prime Minister truly considers Manipur a part of India, he should have visited the State during the initial stages of the crisis, he said and recalled that although Union Home Minister Amit Shah, during his visit to Manipur, classified the situation as a law and order issue, no meaningful action was taken to resolve it Ibobi also stated that the crisis in Manipur could have been resolved long ago if the Prime Minister had visited the State during the early stages, engaged with both warring communities, and worked towards restoring peace without compromising Manipur's territorial integrity.

Noting that the Congress party and the INDIA Bloc had even moved a no-confidence motion against the NDA Government over its handling of the Manipur crisis, he said that the people of Manipur had been waiting for the Prime Minister's visit, but it ultimately turned out to be a disappointment.

Ibobi asserted that the Prime Minister chose to ignore Manipur despite the gravity of the situation even though he had time for foreign trips.

Governance is a continuation, he agreed and maintained that there is nothing wrong with the BJP completing projects initiated by the Congress as it is all done for the development of the State.

He, however, said that the visit of the Prime Minister of a democratic country like India should not be limited to merely inaugurating some projects, especially given the unprecedented crisis the State has been facing.

Ibobi further said that the railway project for Manipur was initiated during the Congress tenure in 2006, and the BJP Government could have completed it long ago.

He pointed out that file railway project in Mizoram, which began after Manipur's, has already been inaugurated, while the project in Manipur is not progressing at a desirable pace.

Ibobi added that people are well aware of how the BJP Government, in power at the Centre since 2014, has been maintaining the highways in Manipur.