New Delhi: July 30, 2025 — The Lok Sabha on Wednesday approved a resolution to extend President’s Rule in Manipur for an additional six months beyond August 13. The Union government defended the decision, stating that while the security situation in the violence-affected northeastern state is improving, continued oversight is necessary as conditions gradually stabilise.
However, the decision has drawn criticism from local leaders — including members of the Manipur Legislative Assembly and representatives of the Kuki community — who allege that the Centre failed to consult them either prior to or during the ongoing period of President’s Rule.
In an interview with The wire, BJP MLA Paolienlal Haokip confirmed that he has not been contacted by the central leadership of his own party since President’s Rule was imposed on February 13. While he acknowledged that merely appointing a new chief minister would not solve the ongoing crisis, he questioned the Centre’s lack of political engagement.
“I’d say the Centre has finally got it right, though a little too late. Forming a new government at this stage seems pointless without first reaching a political settlement. Changing the Chief Minister doesn’t change the underlying issues. Unless the Centre brokers a settlement, I wouldn’t accept the Chief Minister’s post even if it were offered to me—let alone support any government at this point,” Haokip said.
BJP Faces Internal Dissent as Centre Ignores Kuki MLAs and Opposition Slams Prolonged President’s Rule in Manipur.
The BJP-led coalition currently holds 44 of the 60 seats in the Manipur Legislative Assembly, including 37 MLAs from the BJP itself. However, the party appears to be steadily losing the confidence of its own legislators, largely due to its inability to contain the violence under former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh’s leadership. All 10 Kuki MLAs — including seven from the BJP — have repeatedly voiced their dissatisfaction with the state government, yet the Union government has continued to overlook their concerns.(Manipur)
A source within the ruling party also told The wire that a delegation of BJP MLAs had travelled to Delhi to demand the restoration of a popularly elected government in Manipur, but they were sent back without any assurance from the central leadership
Meanwhile, Manipur Congress president K. Meghachandra also condemned the extension, describing it as a “direct assault on democratic values.” In a statement to The wire. He accused the BJP of using President’s Rule to sidestep the democratic mandate and delay the reinstatement of an elected government.
“Manipur needs accountable leadership, not bureaucratic rule from Delhi,” he said, adding that the BJP leadership has shown no genuine commitment to initiating peace or fostering dialogue between communities.
Meghachandra also criticised the government’s recently announced resettlement plan for internally displaced persons (IDPs), dismissing it as a “mockery” that lacks a concrete roadmap.
“After two years, they’re moving people from relief camps to prefabricated houses — not back to their original homes,” he said.
The Wire has visited relief camps across both the valley and hill regions, where displaced families continue to live in dire conditions, lacking adequate food, clothing, education, sanitation, and direct government support. Most of these camps are being run by civil society organisations rather than state or central authorities.
Delhi Declares Peace, Manipur Disagrees
Defending the extension of President’s Rule, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai stated, “What greater proof of peace can there be than the fact that since President’s Rule was imposed, there has been only one fatality and no casualties in the last four months?”
However, ground reports challenge this claim. On the very day President’s Rule was imposed, Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced a “free movement” policy aimed at allowing both Kuki and Meitei communities to travel freely across regions. Yet violence broke out immediately, resulting in one fatality on the first day.
Many Kukis residing in the hill districts remain unable to return to Imphal, where their homes have been forcibly occupied by members of the armed Meitei group, Arambai Tenggol.
The Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU), responsible for administration and relief in Kuki-majority areas of Kangpokpi district, voiced strong dissatisfaction with the Union government’s response to the ongoing crisis. The organisation has renewed its demand for total separation from the Imphal Valley.
COTU leader Lamminlun Singsit told The wire,“Conflicts over separate administrations between the Valley and the Hills have existed since time immemorial, but they were repeatedly abandoned without resolution due to sustainability issues. This long-standing and unresolved tension resurfaced violently on May 3, 2023, leading to devastating loss of life and property. Now, no forced peace effort by the Union government can halt the people’s movement—only complete separation from the dominant Meitei community in the Valley through a separate administration can bring lasting peace.”
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COTU is currently managing vital services like healthcare and education for the displaced Kuki population in Kangpokpi. Lamminlun Singsit pointed out that when state and central security forces failed to safeguard Kuki families in the Imphal Valley, they were left with no choice but to relocate them to Kangpokpi for their safety.
Singsit also confirmed that there has been complete silence from the Centre since the imposition of President’s Rule, with no communication or outreach from the Union government.
“May 28, 2023, and October 12, 2024 — these were the only two instances when the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) reached out to us,” Singsit said. “The MHA merely issues appeals for peace without addressing the root causes of the conflict. Since the imposition of President’s Rule, it has engaged only with the SoO (Suspension of Operations) groups for discussions, excluding civil bodies like ours.”
So far, the ongoing violence between the Kuki and Meitei communities in Manipur has claimed over 270 lives. Despite repeated assurances from the government, more than 60,000 people remain displaced, with no concrete steps taken to resettle them in their native villages.
