Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Manipur on Saturday for the first time since ethnic violence erupted between Meitei and Kuki communities in May 2023, marking a significant political moment for the troubled northeastern state.
PM Modi to visit Manipur for the 1st time since 2023 violence
Manipur Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel confirmed the long-speculated visit during a press briefing on Friday, outlining an itinerary designed to address both affected communities. PM Modi will arrive in Churachandpur district from Mizoram’s Aizawl around 12:30 PM, where he will interact with displaced persons and lay foundation stones for projects worth Rs 7,300 crore across the state.
PM Modi’s itinerary
The choice of Churachandpur holds particular significance as the district suffered extensively during the violence that claimed at least 260 lives and displaced thousands. The Prime Minister will subsequently travel to state capital Imphal at 2:30 PM to inaugurate Rs 1,200 crore worth of projects and address a public gathering.
The visit strategically balances community representation, with Churachandpur being Kuki-dominated while Imphal has a Meitei majority, sending carefully calibrated political signals during this sensitive period.
“The visit of the honourable Prime Minister will pave the way for peace, normalcy and accelerated growth in the state,” Goel stated. “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 Response on PM Modi’s visit
The violence began on May 3, 2023, following a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ in hill districts protesting Meitei demands for Scheduled Tribe status. Opposition parties have consistently criticized Modi’s absence from the state during this crisis period.
The Congress moved a no-confidence motion in August 2023, attempting to corner the government on Manipur issues. However, the ruling party defended its position by highlighting Congress’s past northeastern failures and Modi’s assurance that the nation stood with Manipur while seeking peaceful solutions.
Manipur Congress president Keisham Meghachandra dismissed the visit as inadequate, stating: “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… Very upset with the absence of discussions with all stakeholders.”
Some Congress leaders characterized the timing as “too little, too late,” occurring over two years after the violence began.
