Meeting Displaced People, Inaugurating Development Projects: All About PM Modi’s First Manipur Visit Since 2023 Violence

Manipur Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel on Friday (12 September) officially confirmed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the state on 13 September, marking the first such confirmation since ethnic violence erupted in May 2023, reported The Indian Express.

Preparations had been underway for days in both Imphal and Churachandpur, with posters welcoming the PM erected across the state capital on Thursday night (11 September). However, they were pulled down at certain places.

Goel told the media that the Prime Minister would land in Kuki-Zo-majority Churachandpur district around 12:30 pm from Aizawl. There, Modi will first interact with internally displaced people affected by the conflict and lay the foundation stone for development projects before addressing the public.

After Churachandpur, Modi will travel to Imphal. He will meet displaced people again, inaugurate development projects, and lay foundation stones. According to Goel, projects worth Rs 1,200 crore will be inaugurated, while foundation stones will be laid for initiatives valued at Rs 7,300 crore.

Manipur has endured 27 months of ethnic violence and displacement, collapse of law and order, the rise of insurgent groups, a parliamentary election, President’s Rule, and gradual reduction in clashes between Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities.

Around 57,000 people remain in more than 280 relief camps across the valley and hills. In July, then-Chief Secretary P K Singh announced a three-phase resettlement plan to close these camps by year-end.

Boundaries between Meitei-majority valley districts and Kuki-Zo-majority hill districts have hardened, making free movement a key priority for the Centre.

The Ministry of Home Affairs is holding separate talks with both sides and recently renewed a Suspension of Operations pact with Kuki-Zo insurgent groups under the Kuki National Organisation and the United People’s Front.

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