Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Manipur on Saturday for the first time since ethnic violence broke out in May 2023, the state’s Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel confirmed.
According to the chief secretary, the Prime Minister will arrive in Churachandpur district around 12.30 pm from Aizawl in Mizoram. There, he will meet people displaced by clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities, lay the foundation stone for projects worth ₹7,300 crore across the state, and address a public gathering at the Peace Ground.
Churachandpur was among the worst affected by the violence, which claimed at least 260 lives and displaced thousands.
Later in the afternoon, around 2.30 pm, Modi will travel to Imphal, the state capital, to inaugurate projects worth ₹1,200 crore and address another public function.
With Churachandpur being Kuki-dominated and Imphal having a Meitei majority, the visit is seen as a balancing move in the politically sensitive state.
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Chief Secretary Goel said, “The visit of the honourable Prime Minister will pave the way for peace, normalcy and accelerated growth in the state… On behalf of the state government and the government of India, I request the people of Manipur to come forward in welcoming the PM to the state and participate in the programmes in large numbers.”
Opposition Criticism
Violence in Manipur erupted on May 3, 2023, when a Tribal Solidarity March was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status.
Since then, opposition parties have repeatedly attacked the Prime Minister for not visiting the state. In August 2023, they even moved a no-confidence motion to corner the Centre, though the government pushed back, citing the Congress’ past failures in the northeast.
The Congress, however, remains critical. Manipur Congress president Keisham Meghachandra said, “I take the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as merely symbolic. People who have been suffering for months, including internally displaced persons staying in relief camps, had expected a concrete roadmap for peace, rehabilitation, and justice… It would have been better if they had let it be known that the visit was related to bringing peace and justice. Very upset with the absence of discussions with all stakeholders.”
