Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Manipur on Saturday, marking his first stop over to the state since ethnic clashes erupted in May 2023.
According to reports, the Prime Minister will begin his visit in Churachandpur district, arriving from Aizawl, Mizoram, around 12.30 pm. He is scheduled to meet people displaced by the violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities, lay the foundation stone for development projects worth ₹7,300 crore across the state, and address a gathering at the Peace Ground.
Later in the day, around 2.30 pm, PM Modi will travel to the state capital, Imphal. There, he will inaugurate projects worth ₹1,200 crore and speak at a public function.
Manipur Chief Secretary Goel described the visit as a turning point for Manipur. “The visit of the honourable Prime Minister will pave the way for peace, normalcy and accelerated growth in the state. On behalf of the state government and the government of India, I request the people of Manipur to come forward in welcoming the PM and participate in the programmes in large numbers,” he told reporters.
The ethnic violence in Manipur began on 3 May 2023, that left over 200 dead and thousands displaced. Since then, opposition parties have criticised the Prime Minister for not visiting the state, accusing the Centre of neglect.
In August 2023, the opposition even moved a no-confidence motion in Parliament to highlight the situation in Manipur. The government countered by pointing to the Congress party’s past record in the Northeast, while Modi assured citizens that the nation stood with them and that peace would be restored.
However, the timing of the upcoming visit has drawn sharp criticism from the Congress. Party leaders argue that it comes too late, more than two years after the violence first broke out.
