The Prime Minister finally broke his silence. After more than three months of ethnic violence in the eastern state of Manipur, Narendra Modi finally addressed parliament on Thursday, August 10, after the opposition tabled a motion of no confidence. After mocking the opposition for more than 90 minutes, the prime minister tackled the issue all were waiting for him to address. Several opposition MPs had run out of patience and had left the chamber.

"I want to tell the people of Manipur including women and daughters of Manipur that the country is with you," Modi told the elected members of the Lok Sabha, the lower house of Parliament. He also promised to bring peace. But his speech was largely devoted to an attack on the policies pursued by the Congress Party – now in opposition – in Manipur and the northeastern states when it was in power.

More than 150 people have been killed in the state of Manipur since May in armed clashes between the Hindu Meitei majority and the Christian Kuki community. Tens of thousands more have been displaced. Despite the dispatch of additional troops and the arrest of over 10,000 people, the government has failed to restore order in the territory, most of which remains under curfew and without Internet access.

The almost total lack of response from the prime minister, despite his omnipresence on the national and international stage, has prompted the opposition alliance known as "India" to challenge the government. Parliament has been deadlocked for weeks, with sessions adjourned almost daily due to protests over the Manipur issue.

In July, following the release of a shocking video of an assault on two women who were paraded naked and molested, the prime minister condemned the incident but refrained from speaking out about the conflict itself. "The silence surprised many, but the government seems to have made a political calculation, believing that Manipur will not be detrimental to it in the rest of India," said Neerja Chowdhury, who specializes in Indian politics.

Back in parliament after months of absence, Rahul Gandhi, the main opposition figure, launched his offensive against the prime minister on Wednesday. The Congress Party MP had been expelled from Parliament in March following a libel conviction for mocking the prime minister's last name, but this was suspended by the supreme court on August 4. "You have killed India in Manipur," said the 53-year-old opponent as part of a diatribe that drew cheers from his supporters. "You are pouring petrol all over the country. You threw petrol in Manipur and started the fire. You are determined to burn the whole country," he added.

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