A Deafening Silence on Manipur – India’s Selective Grief

We strongly condemn the horrifying terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where at least 28 civilians lost their lives. This act of terror, brutal and cowardly, rightly drew swift and strong responses. The Prime Minister of India cut short his diplomatic visit to Saudi Arabia. Home Minister Amit Shah immediately rushed to Kashmir. The global community condemned the attack, and across the country, citizens expressed their sorrow and solidarity with the victims and their families.
As we mourn the loss of innocent lives in Pahalgam and stand united in grief with our fellow citizens in Kashmir, a painful question arises: Why does the Indian leadership not show the same urgency, concern, and empathy when tragedy strikes in Manipur?
Back in November 2024, six women — including three minors and an eight-year-old infant — were kidnapped and murdered in Jiribam district, Manipur. The details were gruesome, the crime unspeakably inhumane. And yet, there was silence. Not a word of condemnation from the Prime Minister. Not a single expression of sorrow from Home Minister Amit Shah. No national address. No emergency meeting. No visit to the grieving families.
The contrast is stark. And it is telling.
What message does this send to the people of Manipur? That their pain is invisible? That the lives of Manipuri women and children are not worth the attention of the country’s top leaders? That Manipur — a proud state of this Republic — does not command the same respect or compassion as other parts of India?
It is no longer just negligence. It feels like abandonment.
Manipur has suffered deeply in the past year. Ethnic conflict, violence, lawlessness, and a humanitarian crisis have gripped the state since May 2023. Families have been torn apart, thousands displaced, livelihoods destroyed. Women have been targeted and brutalized, communities pitted against one another, and yet, the central leadership has responded with indifference and delay.
When terrorism strikes the heartland, we see immediate outrage, nationwide protests, and high-level interventions. When it happens in the Northeast, there is a disturbing silence.
This is not the first time the people of Manipur have been overlooked. Historically, the Northeast has faced systemic neglect — in infrastructure, media coverage, national discourse, and policy focus. But what happened in Jiribam is a humanitarian tragedy that deserved immediate national attention. And the response — or lack thereof — was not just disappointing, it was shameful.
The people of Manipur have given their everything to this country. They serve in the armed forces with unmatched bravery. They have brought international recognition in sports, culture, and the arts. They vote. They pay taxes. They uphold democracy. And yet, when they cry out in pain, their voices are drowned by the silence of Delhi.
This selective grief — where some lives are mourned and others ignored — weakens the very idea of India. A nation cannot claim to be united when entire regions feel neglected and unheard. Manipur is not a remote outpost. It is an integral part of India. Its people are not outsiders. They are Indian citizens, entitled to the same protection, the same respect, and the same compassion as any other Indian.
It is high time the Indian leadership acknowledges this truth — not just in words, but in actions. Justice must be delivered for the Jiribam victims. Accountability must be established. Security must be restored, and real political will must be shown to end the suffering in Manipur. Anything less would be a betrayal of the constitutional promise of equality and justice.
To remain silent is to be complicit.
To the people of Manipur: your pain matters. Your anger is justified. And your resilience is admired. Even if the nation’s leaders have failed you, the people of India must not.
True national unity lies not in flags and slogans, but in standing up for each other — in grief, in struggle, and in hope.
Manipur deserves more than silence. Manipur deserves justice.