Supreme Court judges assess conditions in Manipur relief camps

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not visiting Manipur since violence began nearly two years ago. Ramesh emphasized the need for the Prime Minister to provide a "healing touch" to the troubled state. He asked, "when will the Prime Minister visit?" and suggested that Modi should stop in Manipur during a trip to Bangkok. A delegation of Supreme Court judges, led by Justice BR Gavai, visited Imphal, Manipur, to see relief camps amid the ongoing violence. Ramesh welcomed the judges but questioned why it has taken 18 months to impose President's rule in the state. He mentioned that the Supreme Court had declared the constitutional system in Manipur had been destroyed back in August 2023. Ramesh also criticized Home Minister Amit Shah for not addressing the situation in Manipur during a recent four-hour response in Parliament. He pointed out that Shah visited Mizoram but not Manipur, raising questions about his priorities. The ethnic violence in Manipur began on May 3, 2023, after clashes between the Meitei majority and the Kuki tribal community. The conflict has led to hundreds of deaths and significant displacement, prompting the central government to send paramilitary forces to restore order.