Imphal: Prime Minister Narendra Modi omitted any mention of the Manipur crisis in the 137th episode of his Mann Ki Baat radio show. The state remains gripped by severe conflict. The Prime Minister ignored the displaced population and the region's challenges entirely. He spoke instead about drugs, cleanliness, women's empowerment, agriculture, space technology, and local business.
The 145-line transcript shows no reference to the state. Modi chose to highlight a flower farming success story in Phek district, Nagaland. This spotlight on the North-East makes the Manipur silence glaring. Critics argue that a simple nod to the victims could provide symbolic relief to those who lost homes and family members. As one observer noted, "For Manipur, silence itself has become a message, and an unsettling one."
Mann Ki Baat serves as a key communication link for the government. It is not a formal policy brief. Still, the show defines what topics hold national importance. People in the state look to New Delhi for reassurance. They want a clear path to peace. This continued exclusion fuels the fear that Manipur sits outside the current national conversation.
Comments