New Delhi: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat is set to travel to Imphal later today—his first visit to the state since ethnic conflict erupted there in May 2023. During the visit, the sarsanghachalak will interact with various community organisations and stakeholders, in what is being seen as an attempt to bring about reconciliation between the mostly Hindu Meiteis and tribal Christian Kuki-Zo communities.
In the aftermath of the conflict, Manipur witnessed segregation on ethnic lines. While Meiteis are now concentrated in the Imphal valley, members of the Kuki-Zo community living in the valley have relocated back to the hill districts.
Bhagwat’s three-day visit comes close on the heels of BJP general secretary (organisation) B.L. Santhosh and the party’s Northeast coordinator Sambit Patra’s trip to the state last week to assess if the ground situation was conducive for forming a popular government.
Manipur has been under President’s Rule, with the Assembly in suspended animation since February this year after BJP’s N. Biren Singh stepped down as chief minister.
While BJP MLAs in Manipur have been pushing for the formation of a popular government, the security establishment wants President’s Rule to continue for some more time, it is learnt. It is one of the reasons behind the Centre’s reluctance to take a call on forming a popular government, despite BJP being in a majority in the 60-member Assembly.
BJP national president and Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda is also scheduled to travel to the state Friday, coinciding with Bhagwat’s visit to the state.
Though Nadda is scheduled to attend a function at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal, state BJP leaders said he is also expected to meet Bhagwat.
RSS functionaries, on the other hand, maintained that Bhagwat’s visit to Manipur is part of the organisation’s centenary celebrations. “He will deliberate on the ‘pancha parivartan’ or five transformational tasks being carried out as part of the RSS centenary year initiatives,” said a press statement issued by the Sangh’s Northeast unit.
Bhagwat, a senior RSS functionary in Manipur told ThePrint, will stay in Imphal. He will not travel to any of the hill districts, inhabited mostly by the tribal Kuki-Zo and Naga communities. He will interact with representatives of tribal communities in Imphal.
Separate sessions have also been organised where Bhagwat will interact with prominent citizens, entrepreneurs, journalists and youth leaders. He last visited Manipur in 2022.
The RSS chief is currently in Assam as part of his Northeast outreach. On Wednesday, he addressed a Youth Leadership Conclave in Guwahati where he appealed to the youth of Assam and the Northeast to not create any opinion about RSS on the basis of pre-conceived notions or motivated propaganda.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)