WMC Urges Modi to Restore Trust by Opening Highways in Manipur

Last Updated on May 31, 2025 by SPN Editor

In a scathing letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the World Meetei Council (WMC) has exposed what it calls a “disturbing” failure by the Indian government to protect the fundamental rights of the Meetei people in Manipur. WMC accuses the central government of abandoning the Meetei community, particularly the Vaishnavite Hindu population, amid a prolonged crisis that has left National Highways in Manipur inaccessible for over two years.

The WMC, in its letter dated May 30, 2025 (Ref. WMC/G/2025/15), reveals that the Ministry of Home Affairs has admitted its inability to reopen vital highways in Manipur, despite deploying over 60,000 Indian Army and Assam Rifles personnel in the state. The council calls this inaction “unethical” and “deeply unacceptable,” questioning the government’s commitment to ensuring freedom of movement and safety for Manipuris under President’s Rule, which places the state under Modi’s direct administration.

The letter raises a damning question: If the Prime Minister cannot restore access to national highways in Manipur, how can the people of India, especially in vulnerable regions, trust the government to protect their rights? The WMC alleges that the Meetei community has faced “immeasurable suffering” due to the central government’s “apparent indifference” and the “colonial mindset” of security forces, whose linguistic barriers—90% of Meeteis cannot communicate in Hindi—have deepened the disconnect with locals.

In a pressing appeal, the WMC implores Prime Minister Modi to:

Take immediate and decisive steps to ensure the reopening of National Highways in Manipur; restore a popular government in the state, which can better understand and address the concerns of the local communities; and empower the state government with the necessary support from the Centre to restore peace, law and order.

“The people of Manipur deserve dignity, justice, and equal treatment under the Constitution of India,” the letter states, imploring Modi to act decisively. Signed by WMC Chairman Heigrujam Nabashyam, the appeal highlights the growing frustration of the Meetei community and signals a potential flashpoint in the region if their demands go unmet.