Union Home Minister Amit Shah declared Friday night that the situation in Manipur, long plagued by ethnic strife, is stabilizing, with President’s rule imposed at the “appropriate time” to restore calm.

Speaking at the Times Now Summit 2025, Shah highlighted ongoing talks between the Meitei and Kuki communities—both separately with the Home Ministry and among themselves—as a sign of progress toward lasting peace.

“The situation is relatively peaceful now. Normal life has resumed, and things are moving positively. There’s no cause for worry,” Shah said, dismissing concerns about delays in central intervention.

He argued that imposing President’s rule earlier would have faltered without buy-in from both communities. “It’s easy to judge from afar, but we acted when the timing was right,” he added, noting Manipur’s history of ethnic clashes, some lasting three to four years.

The state has been reeling since May 2023, when violence erupted between the Imphal Valley’s Meiteis and the hill-based Kuki-Zo tribals, sparked by a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ opposing the Meiteis’ push for Scheduled Tribe status.

The conflict has claimed over 260 lives and displaced thousands. Shah emphasized the Centre’s persistent efforts to bridge the divide, with multiple negotiation attempts underway. While tensions linger, the resumption of daily routines and dialogue marks a tentative step forward, bolstered by the recent imposition of central governance to quell the unrest.