The experience left a lasting impression. The people of Manipur were not only in need of humanitarian aid but of confidence, reconciliation, and reassurance. Without peace and trust, no society can move forward.

When violence first erupted in May 2023 that time we were in Kenya to attend the word Congress of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW). There were several doctors from Manipur with us. They were astonished how this happened in their state with the rich heritage of cultural and social harmony. But as expected they were very worried. The situation had only worsened by September. Four months had passed without any meaningful intervention by the central government. Despite appeals from every section of society, Prime Minister Narendra Modi neither visited Manipur nor addressed the plight of its people. His absence spoke volumes.

Now, after two years and four months the Prime Minister finally set foot in the state. Expectations were high. Many believed his presence might bring healing and hope. Yet, what followed was an empty performance. He spent just 20 minutes each in two locations, meeting only a handful of carefully chosen individuals.

After his visit I decided to speak to some doctors in Manipur whom we had met during our visit to Manipur two years back, to know about their and public reaction on Prime Minister's visit. Conversations with Dr. Nara Singh, former Health and Culture Minister of Manipur, and other respected doctors revealed that population is not only dissatisfied but angry. After months of devastation, they had hoped for empathy and solutions. Instead, they got rhetoric. The Prime Minister blamed past governments rather than addressing urgent problems like unemployment, inflation, and insecurity. His words sounded less like those of a national leader and more like a campaign speech.

The price of essential goods in Manipur is very high. For example a cooking gas cylinder costs nearly ₹4,000. The central government could easily ease this burden, just as it could stabilize supplies of other essentials. Yet, nothing was promised. Even the development projects mentioned were not new — they dated back to Dr. Manmohan Singh’s government but had remained untouched for over a decade. It was an Insensitive visit to a Sensitive State.

Manipur’s geography alone makes it one of India’s most sensitive regions. Sharing a border with Myanmar, it faces spillovers from that country’s authoritarian military rule, including drug trafficking and smuggling. Stability in Manipur is not just a regional necessity but a national security imperative. One would expect a leader visiting such a fragile state to demonstrate urgency, compassion, and inclusive leadership.

Instead, the Prime Minister failed even to meet his own party’s legislators. He did not convene dialogue between the two communities. In contrast he mingled with enthusiasm among crowds in Assam where he went immediately after leaving Manipur.

During our visit to Manipur in September 2023 as someone who has personally walked through Manipur’s refugee camps and spoken to its displaced people, I had hoped for leadership that could rise above politics. Instead, the PM's visit deepened disillusionment. It neither healed wounds nor offered a roadmap for peace.

What is missing is statesmanship — the ability to listen, to reconcile, to instil confidence in a fractured society. Sadly, the Prime Minister has chosen instead to excel in hollow rhetoric and divisive narratives.

India is a land of extraordinary diversity. Its strength lies in unity. Progress cannot come through division and neglect; it can only come through inclusion, dialogue, and compassion. Manipur’s tragedy should have been an occasion for leadership to demonstrate these values. Instead, the opportunity was squandered. And with every such lost chance, the wounds of Manipur deepen. (IPA Service)