Brand Modi is a liability in Manipur

'Brand Modi' may be the BJP’s biggest electoral draw across the nation, but in Manipur, that has become a liability for the party.

Violence broke out between the state’s majority Meiteis and tribal Kuki community on May 3 last year. Since then, the two communities have been segregated from each other with the conflict wedging an unprecedented ethnic divide, but Modi did not visit Manipur even once during the course of conflict raging for almost a year now. His absence and the "long silence" have become a major election issue in the two parliamentary seats in the state that will vote in two phases on April 19 and 26.

The Meitei-dominated Inner Manipur will go to polls on April 19. The ST-reserved Outer Manipur constituency will witness polling on April 19 and 26 for security reasons.

'PM let us down'

“The state is reeling under unprecedented turmoil and yet the prime minister did not find time to come here and address the pain of the women and children who have been suffering in relief camps for almost a year now,” Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) vice-president Alfred K Arthur said.

“It is now the time for the people of Manipur to show PM Modi exactly how he treated us,” he added. The sentiment that the PM has let Manipur down, as expressed by the opposition Congress, finds resonance across the state, particularly in the Imphal valley.

“The people of Manipur are genuinely hurt by the Prime Minister’s indifference, and this can become a huge negative for the BJP if the polling is free and fair,” said Onil Kshetrimayum, a noted social and human rights activist in the state.

A few billboards with Modi’s pictures announcing his “guarantees” dot the streets of the state, but that did not hide the BJP’s edginess over the PM’s no-show in Manipur during the violence. This is apparent from its frantic attempts to counter the allegation against the prime minister.

The BJP’s counter-campaign is spearheaded by Chief Minister Biren Singh, who is holding a series of meetings, some even closed-door at his official residence, with cross sections of people, including influential civil society organisations such as Meira Paibis.

Audio clips being played by BJP

A common feature in these outreach drives is the playing of two audio clips in which Modi spoke about Manipur violence.

"The whole country stands with the people of Manipur. Peace is the only way to resolve all disputes. The Centre and the Manipur government are making every effort to ensure that peace returns to the state as soon as possible," Modi was heard saying in one of the audio clips. It was the prime minister’s address from the ramparts of Red Fort on the occasion of Independence Day on August 15 last year.

He then played the audio clip of Modi’s speech delivered during the no-confidence motion in Parliament in August last year.

The prime minister devoted only about three minutes to Manipur violence during his over two-hour-long speech in Parliament, though. The BJP is highlighting these speeches to tell people how "concerned the prime minister is" about the prevailing situation in Manipur and that the Opposition is hurling baseless allegations against him.

The saffron camp also claims there have been concerted attempts by the Opposition to defame the PM ever since the violence broke out in the state.

The chief minister accuses the Congress of making the 'naked parade video' of tribal women viral last year by the Congress-led Opposition to defame the BJP government and PM Modi. Modi himself has also stepped in to clear the allegation against him.

"We believe that it is our collective responsibility to deal with the situation sensitively. I have already spoken about this in the Parliament. We’ve dedicated our best resources and administrative machinery to resolving the conflict. Because of the timely intervention of the Government of India and efforts made by the Government of Manipur, there has been a marked improvement in the situation in the state. Home Minister Amit Shah stayed in Manipur while the conflict was at its peak, holding 15-plus meetings with various stakeholders to help resolve the conflict. The Centre has been consistently extending its support, as required by the state government. The process of relief and rehabilitation is ongoing. Remedial measures undertaken include a financial package for the relief and rehabilitation of people living in shelter camps in the state,” the PM said in an interview with a leading daily of the northeast.

Will he finally visit the state? Even the state BJP leadership does not have a clear answer to this question. Though Modi's name has been listed along with Amit Shah and other BJP leaders as party’s star campaigners for Manipur, the party is not very sure whether Modi will step on the soil of Manipur during elections. Shah is expected to campaign in the state this week.