PM Modi’s first visit to Manipur today since 2023 violence: What it means for the state

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to arrive in Manipur today, marking his first visit to the state since ethnic violence broke out there in May 2023.

The Prime Minister will begin his tour from Mizoram’s capital, Aizawl. Here, he will launch and lay the foundation stones for several major projects worth over Rs 9,000 crore. These projects aim to improve connectivity and infrastructure in the region. Among them are the Bairabi–Sairang railway line, the 45 km-long Aizawl bypass road, and key roads like Thenzawl–Sialsuk and Khankawn–Rongura. He will also inaugurate an LPG bottling plant at Mualkhang.

Another important step in his Mizoram tour is the foundation stone laying for the Chhimtuipui River Bridge on the Lawngtlai–Siaha Road, and the Khelo India Multipurpose Indoor Hall, which is expected to benefit sports and youth development. The Bairabi–Sairang railway line has already been formally dedicated to the nation, with new train services flagged off that will connect Aizawl directly to Delhi, Kolkata, and Guwahati.

After wrapping up his engagements in Mizoram, PM Modi will head to Churachandpur in Manipur around 12.30 pm. Churachandpur, a Kuki-majority district, was one of the worst-hit areas during the ethnic clashes. The visit is symbolic, as no Prime Minister has visited the district since Rajiv Gandhi in 1988. For many, Modi’s arrival there is being seen as a message of reconciliation and commitment to peace.

Later in the day, around 2.30 pm, PM Modi will reach the state capital, Imphal. Here, he will inaugurate projects worth more than Rs 1,200 crore and also address a large public gathering at the historic Kangla Fort. Among the major projects in Imphal are the newly built Manipur Police Headquarters at Mantripukhri, which cost Rs 101 crore, and the new Civil Secretariat in the same area, worth Rs 538 crore. Other key initiatives include a drainage and asset management system valued at Rs 3,647 crore and the Manipur Infotech Development (MIND) project with an outlay of Rs 550 crore.

Manipur Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel has said the Prime Minister’s visit will open the path toward peace, normalcy, and faster growth in the troubled state. He urged the people of Manipur to welcome PM Modi wholeheartedly and to take part in the events.

PM Modi himself shared a message on X, saying: “I will be attending programmes in Churachandpur and Imphal tomorrow, 13th September. We are fully committed to furthering inclusive and all-around development of Manipur. The foundation stone for road projects, National Highway projects, women hostels and more would be laid.”

This would be PM Modi’s first visit after the violence began on May 3, 2023, when a “Tribal Solidarity March” was held against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status. What followed was some of the worst ethnic clashes the state had seen in decades.

Modi’s absence from the state during the crisis was sharply criticised by the Opposition. In fact, in August 2023, the Congress even moved a no-confidence motion in Parliament, with Manipur at the centre of their arguments.