Manipur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday visited Manipur for the first time since the ethnic violence that erupted in May 2023, assuring residents that a new era of peace and development is on the horizon.
Addressing a gathering in Churachandpur, PM Modi said, “The land of Manipur is a land of hope and aspiration. Unfortunately, violence had cast its shadow on this beautiful region. After meeting those affected in relief camps, I can say with confidence that a new dawn of hope and trust is rising in Manipur.”
The violence in 2023, triggered by clashes between the valley-dominant Meitei community and the Kuki tribes, left over 250 people dead and displaced around 60,000 residents. Longstanding tensions over land and public jobs, compounded by political maneuvering, escalated the unrest. Internet services were disrupted for months, and thousands are still unable to return to their homes.
Highlighting the importance of peace for development, the Prime Minister stated, “For development to take root anywhere, peace is essential. Over the past 11 years, many conflicts in the Northeast have been resolved through dialogue, mutual respect, and understanding. Negotiations in the hills and valleys are ongoing, and I urge all organizations to move forward on the path of peace.”
The Prime Minister also emphasized infrastructure and social development in Manipur, citing projects such as a new airport in Imphal, highways, rail connectivity including the Jiribam-Imphal rail project, and new medical colleges.
“There was a time when decisions made in Delhi took decades to reach here. Today, our Churachandpur, our Manipur, are progressing together with the rest of the nation,” PM Modi said. He further highlighted social welfare initiatives, noting that nearly 60,000 pucca houses have been constructed in the state and over 3.5 lakh households now receive piped water, compared to just 25–30 thousand a decade ago.
The visit drew criticism from opposition leaders ahead of PM Modi’s arrival. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge termed the visit “tokenism” and a “grave insult” to the people, tweeting, “Your so-called roadshow in Imphal and Churachandpur is nothing but a cowardly escape from hearing the cries of people in relief camps!”
Earlier, Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, downplayed the trip, stating, “Manipur has been in trouble for a long time and the PM has decided to go there now. The main issue today in India is vote chori.” Gandhi has visited Manipur three times since the outbreak of violence.
