Social worker Sanjoy Ahanthem urges Prime Minister Modi to address key issues during proposed visit to Manipur

In a media statement issued on Saturday, social worker Sanjoy Ahanthem welcomed the proposed visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Manipur in the first week of July 2025. He stated that if the visit materialises, the people of Manipur would warmly receive the Prime Minister, provided his visit carries genuine concern for the state’s ongoing issues. However, he cautioned that if the trip is limited to ceremonial events such as shaking hands with children, laying foundation stones, or making announcements without any concrete delivery, it would be perceived merely as a formal occasion lacking substance.
Sanjoy Ahanthem noted that the Prime Minister himself had indicated plans to lay foundation stones and organise a Yatra during the visit. As a concerned citizen, he urged the Prime Minister to seriously consider certain pressing matters affecting the state.
He expressed concern that the visit should not be used to reinforce the image of the current Chief Minister in the name of a “popular government,” especially at a time when the state’s governance is under scrutiny.
Referring to the continuing displacement of thousands of people since the outbreak of violence by Kuki militants on May 3, 2023, Sanjoy Ahanthem pointed out that numerous homes had been destroyed and people had been confined to relief camps for over two years. He stressed the urgent need for a substantial financial package, including fair compensation for every destroyed household and well-planned rehabilitation measures to restore the dignity of the displaced.
He also demanded the termination of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with Kuki armed groups. According to Sanjoy Ahanthem, these groups have misused the arrangement to perpetrate acts of terror from the hills, including the killing of civilians, violence against women, and other inhumane acts. He described the situation as an ethnic cleansing campaign aimed at indigenous communities and called the ongoing SoO agreement anti-state and anti-national. Revoking the agreement, he added, would demonstrate a sincere commitment to national unity and human rights.
On the issue of Manipur’s territorial integrity, he claimed there were indications that a Bill under Article 3 of the Indian Constitution, proposing a reorganisation of Manipur, could be introduced in Parliament on July 21, 2025. He urged that such matters be approached with utmost seriousness and transparency.
Regarding security concerns, Sanjoy Ahanthem highlighted the infiltration of people from Myanmar and Bangladesh into Manipur and called for decisive action to address the issue before the 2027 Assembly Elections.
He further appealed to BJP leaders and elected representatives of the state to ensure that the Prime Minister is made aware of these critical issues. He said that only if these concerns are addressed sincerely will the people of Manipur view Prime Minister Modi as a true leader and guardian of the land, rather than someone making a symbolic visit.