In a significant development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Sunday, marking their first direct discussion in 18 months since the ethnic violence erupted in Manipur.

The meeting took place at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters in central Delhi, on the sidelines of PM Modi’s second day of meetings with chief ministers from the party. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh were also present during the session.

Although details and photographs of the meeting were not released, sources confirmed that the current situation in Manipur was discussed. CM Biren Singh also met with other senior BJP leaders, including party president JP Nadda and several Union ministers, during his visit to Delhi.

The meeting assumes significance as it is the first one-on-one encounter between PM Modi and CM Biren Singh since the ethnic clashes broke out in Manipur between the Meitei and Kuki communities in May 2023, resulting in over 200 deaths and thousands displaced.