Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on a visit to Manipur, where he will inaugurate and lay the groundwork for various development projects, collectively valued at ₹8,500 crore. This marks his first trip to the state since the eruption of ethnic clashes between the Kuki and Meitei communities in May 2023, an event that claimed the lives of over 260 individuals and displaced thousands.
As reported, the Prime Minister plans to lay the foundation stone for development projects worth ₹7,300 crore at the Peace Ground in Churachandpur, a predominantly Kuki area. Additionally, he will inaugurate infrastructure projects worth ₹1,200 crore in Imphal, the capital of the Meitei-dominant region.
Discussions surrounding a potential visit to Manipur alongside his official trip to neighboring Mizoram have been ongoing, though official confirmation from the government or the BJP was absent. However, a significant billboard was erected on Thursday evening, announcing the Prime Minister’s scheduled programs at the Peace Ground in Churachandpur and the Kangla Fort in Imphal on September 13.
The billboard’s strategic placement at Keshampt Junction in Imphal, close to the BJP’s state headquarters, suggests a broader campaign. The state has been under President’s rule since February, following the resignation of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh.
In preparation for the visit, an advisory was issued, instructing attendees of the VVIP event at the Peace Ground on September 13 to refrain from bringing prohibited items such as keys, pens, water bottles, bags, handkerchiefs, umbrellas, lighters, matches, pieces of cloth, sharp objects, weapons, and ammunition.
Notably, the advisory did not explicitly mention the Prime Minister. It also advised against bringing children under 12 and those with health conditions to the event. Leishemba Sanajaoba, Manipur’s representative in the Rajya Sabha, has expressed that the visit will be a significant moment for the people and the state.
The state has a history of violent clashes. The current visit marks a historic moment as no previous Prime Minister has visited during such a difficult period to address the people. PM Modi will be the first to do so. In a video message, Leishemba encouraged a welcoming reception for PM Modi and discouraged any form of boycott.
Security arrangements have been intensified in Imphal and Churachandpur ahead of the Prime Minister’s arrival. A contingent of central security officials has also been deployed in Churachandpur. The police and paramilitary forces have been stationed and barricades set up along the pathways leading to the Peace Ground.