A railway line, a new hospital, and a host of other infrastructural projects worth ₹ 7,300 crore—Prime Minister Narendra Modi attempted to heal strife-torn Manipur by shifting focus to development work.
On September 13, Modi made his first visit to Manipur since the ethnic clashes broke out between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities.
PM Modi in Manipur
Modi first landed in Imphal, a Metei stronghold. He inaugurated a railway line and other projects worth ₹1,200 crore.
The prime minister then headed to the hill district of Churachandpur—an area named after a famed Meitei King, but now dominated by the Kuki-Zo community. He announced projects worth ₹7,300 crore.
In both places, Modi met with people who were displaced due to the ethnic violence, which had left at least 260 people dead and 60,000 homeless.
Modi said that establishing peace was essential for development in any region, as he termed the 2023 ethnic clashes “unfortunate”.
"Any violence in Manipur is unfortunate. This violence is injustice to our ancestors and our next generation. We have to take Manipur to the oath of peace and development,” he said.
The prime minister’s belated trip to Manipur drew the ire of the opposition INDIA bloc, which has been demanding Modi’s visit to the state for the past two years.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge termed the PM’s three-hour visit to Manipur “a farce, tokenism, and a grave insult to a wounded people”. CPI leader P Sandosh Kumar said the PM’s visit to Manipur was of “no use”.
Fractures continue to remain in Manipur. The Northeastern state is divided into two camps—with Meiteis inhabiting the Imphal Valley and Kukis living in the surrounding hill areas.
Security guards manning borders and buffer zones separate the two regions.There have been several attempts by the central and state governments to end the conflict, but with no result.
A recent peace deal signed between the two communities collapsed within a day. Nevertheless, Modi has assured the public of support from the Centre.
"I appeal to all the groups to move on the path of peace to fulfill their dreams and secure their children's future. Today, I promise that I stand by your side. The Indian government stands with the people of Manipur,” he said.
