An Open Letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi
By Oken Jeet Sandham
I write this letter not as a political opponent, but as a deeply concerned citizen witnessing the prolonged suffering and unrest in the strife-torn State of Manipur.
Reports and sources now suggest that you are finally preparing to visit Manipur. This visit comes after more than two years of ethnic violence, civil unrest, and the systematic breakdown of law and order in a State that shares a sensitive border with Myanmar.
Myanmar, under military rule and plagued by civil war, has become a hub of instability in the region. This instability has spilled over into Manipur, contributing significantly to the current crisis. What we are witnessing is not just an internal law-and-order problem, but a case of indirect external aggression—a serious national concern. Yet, this reality has been largely ignored by the Centre, leaving the people of Manipur to suffer in silence.
Initially, the crisis was left to the State government. When the situation worsened, your government stepped in and took administrative control, promising to restore normalcy and ensure free movement across the State. But despite this takeover, little has changed. The promises remain unfulfilled, and the situation on the ground continues to deteriorate.
For over six months, the State has effectively been under the direct watch of the Union Government. Still, there has been no visible plan, no real progress, and certainly no peace. Roads remain unsafe. Families remain displaced. Communities remain divided.
At the peak of the ethnic violence, you visited Guwahati but did not travel to Manipur—a decision many interpreted as indifference or neglect. That absence has not been forgotten, and it came at a cost: in the recent parliamentary elections, the people responded with their votes.
Yes, Manipur is small. It has just two Lok Sabha MPs and a population smaller than that of many individual districts in mainland India. The entire Northeast sends fewer representatives to Parliament than a single large State like Uttar Pradesh. But citizenship is not a matter of numbers. The people of Manipur are Indian citizens with equal rights, equal dignity, and equal expectations of safety, governance, and justice.
You were always welcome in Manipur. Had you come earlier—had you shown the urgency the situation demanded—the crisis might have been contained. It is not too late now, but the delay has already cost lives, trust, and stability.
Prime Minister, I understand that politics is an art, not a science. But leadership in a democracy demands empathy, courage, and presence. Your visit can still matter—but only if it brings more than speeches. It must bring solutions. It must bring accountability. It must bring hope.
The people of Manipur want peace. They want dignity. They want to move freely in their own homeland—without fear or division. It is time they were heard, seen, and respected.
