The Opposition Congress has formally invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Manipur, where people have been “eagerly waiting” for his presence and hoping to “place their voices of helplessness” before him.

The “invite” to Modi was extended by Manipur PCC president K. Meghachandra Singh through the PMO on Friday.

The four-para letter sees Meghachandra inviting Modi on “behalf” of the people of the state which has been in turmoil for the last 16 months since May 3, 2023, a turmoil which “has devastated the entire state with nearly a lakh of human population being internally displaced and hundreds of human lives being taken away leaving the entire state in complete chaos”.

The content of the letter, those familiar with the situation in the state, said was clearly a polite way of attacking Modi for having stayed away from the state which has a BJP-led government since 2017.

The invite, they said, is also a reflection of the overall mood of the people, particularly the Meitei-majority Imphal Valley, against the Centre for not being able to stop the unrest for 16 months despite deploying about 60,000 central forces and also “controlling” the security apparatus in the state.

Before the Congress, the influential North East Students’ Organisation (NESO) had on Thursday urged Modi to “visit Manipur to assess the ground situation personally”.

Meghachandra’s invite has also flagged the aerial attacks through the use of “sophisticated drones, RPGs and missiles” in civilian areas since September 1. The aerial attacks have seen intense protests in the capital Imphal leading to the imposition of a curfew and Internet ban since Tuesday.

Pleading for Modi’s visit at the earliest, the Congress leader, who is also a sitting MLA, said his visit for the “sake of humanity” would go a long way in “restoring peace and normalcy in Manipur”.

In conclusion, Meghachandra stated that “the people of Manipur are longing to meet you on the soil of Manipur”.

The situation in Imphal Valley remains tense with the administration imposing total curfew from 2pm on Saturday in Bishnupur, Imphal West and Imphal East districts because of the evolving law and order situation. The districts had earlier relaxed curfew hours from 5am to 4pm.

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh in an X post on the invite said Meghachandra has “made yet another anguished please to the non-biological PM to visit Manipur. Will he finally summon the courage to do so?”