Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Manipur, marking his first trip to the state since the eruption of ethnic violence between the Kuki and Meitei communities in May 2023. This visit will include the inauguration and laying of foundation stones for various development projects, amounting to Rs 8,500 crore. The previous violence resulted in the loss of over 260 lives and displacement of thousands.
According to official sources, the Prime Minister will be launching development projects worth Rs 7,300 crore from the Peace Ground in Churachandpur, a region with a significant Kuki population. Furthermore, he is scheduled to inaugurate infrastructure projects worth Rs 1,200 crore in Imphal, the capital city predominantly inhabited by the Meitei community.
For a while, there was speculation that the Prime Minister would also visit Manipur as part of his official visit to neighboring Mizoram, although it was not officially confirmed by the government or the BJP. However, on Thursday evening, the government put up a large billboard announcing the Prime Minister’s programs at the Peace Ground in Churachandpur and the Kangla Fort in the state capital on September 13.
This billboard was strategically placed at Keshampt Junction in Imphal, near the state headquarters of the BJP, with more such displays expected across Manipur. The state has been under President’s rule since February, following the resignation of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh.
A public advisory was issued, urging attendees of the VVIP event at the Peace Ground on September 13 to refrain from bringing specific items. These prohibited items include keys, pens, water bottles, bags, handkerchiefs, umbrellas, lighters, matches, pieces of cloth, any sharp objects, weapons, and ammunition. The advisory, which did not directly name the Prime Minister, also recommended that individuals avoid bringing children under the age of 12 and those with health issues to the venue. Leishemba Sanajaoba, the lone Rajya Sabha member from Manipur, has expressed that the Prime Minister’s visit is a positive development for the state and its citizens.
The BJP MP believes that PM Modi’s visit will offer an opportunity to hear the concerns of the people. While Manipur has experienced instances of violent clashes in the past, no previous Prime Minister has ever visited the state during such challenging periods to address the public. PM Modi is set to be the first Prime Minister to do so. In a video message, Leishemba called upon everyone to welcome the Prime Minister and abstain from any form of protest.
Security measures have been significantly increased in Imphal and Churachandpur district headquarters ahead of the Prime Minister’s visit, as reported by the authorities. Additionally, a team of central security officials has been deployed to Churachandpur. Police and paramilitary forces have been mobilized, and barricades have been set up along the routes leading to the Peace Ground.