Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting violence-hit Manipur on Saturday, the state's Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel confirmed on Friday afternoon. This will be PM Modi's first visit to the state after ethnic clashes broke out in May 2023.
On Thursday night, posters were erected in the state capital for the welcome of the Prime Minister. Official preparations have been going on in Churachandpur and Imphal for his visit.
Chief Secretary Goel told the media that PM Modi will land in the Kuki-Zo-majority Churachandpur district around 12:30 pm from Aizawl on Saturday.
After that, the PM will first interact with internally displaced people — who have been displaced by the conflict. The PM will then lay the foundation stone for development projects before addressing the public in the area, the Chief Secretary said.
The PM's agenda further includes visiting Imphal, where he will be interacting with displaced people again and will also be inaugurating more developmental projects. Goel said that he would lay the foundation stones of developmental projects worth ₹73,000 crore and inaugurate others worth ₹1,200 crore.
Ethnic clashes in Manipur
Manipur has been witnessing widespread violence as clashes have been going on in the state for the past 27 months. The state has seen cracks in the law-and-order system, displacement of people, a tighter grip of insurgents, the imposition of President's Rule, and parliamentary elections. Tensions have been soaring high in the state following clashes between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities.
Around 57,000 people are currently staying in 280 relief camps across the areas that are predominantly known for having Meitei and Kuki-Zo populations. In July, PK Singh, who was then Chief Secretary, had announced that a three-phase resettlement plan was in the making to help the people by the end of the year.
The Indian Express reported that the Home Ministry has been in talks with groups on both sides separately to amicably find a solution.
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