New Delhi: It has been a year since the riots in Manipur. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not visited Manipur even once during this period, though he had time to visit all other states. 162 times in 2023. While Manipur was burning, PM went abroad 12 times.
When the riots broke out in Manipur, Modi was busy campaigning for the assembly elections in Karnataka. 230 people were killed in the Manipur riots. 60,000 people were left homeless. BJP ruled Manipuir. Biren Singh, who was the Chief Minister, continues in office. A year after the riots, no action has been taken against the Chief Minister or any other ministers.
Modi has been questioned many times by the opposition for his silence on Manipur. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited Manipur last year. He had started Bharat Jodo PM Modi and visited Rajasthan 12 times between May 2023 and April 2024. Needless to say, this has been accurately documented on the Prime Minister's Office website and was published by the BBC. Modi visited Madhya Pradesh 22 times. He visited two states last November in connection with the assembly elections and led magnificent campaign programmes for the BJP.
According to a BBC report, Modi has visited Karnataka eight times in 2023. He visited his home state, Gujarat, 10 times and Uttar Pradesh, which sends the highest number of MPs to the Lok Sabha, 17 times.
In February-March this year, Prime Minister Modi visited the northeastern states of Assam, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh but left Manipur. He visited Assam thrice and Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh once each.
According to official records, Prime Minister Modi visited the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh on March 9 for the 'Viksit Bharat Viksit North East' programme. He visited all the other states during the Assembly elections held in five states last November but did not go to Mizoram, which is adjacent to Manipur and is home to a large number of people from the Kuki community displaced by the violence.
Apart from domestic visits, PM Modi has also undertaken 14 international trips since May 2023. This includes a visit to inaugurate a Hindu temple in the UAE.