Imphal: After more than two years of turmoil that left Manipur deeply scarred by ethnic violence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in the state today on his first visit since the unrest began. His presence comes amid continuing tensions, with thousands still displaced and awaiting a path to normalcy.
During his visit, the Prime Minister is set to launch and inaugurate a series of development projects aimed at rebuilding infrastructure and restoring confidence among affected communities. In Churachandpur, he will lay the foundation for projects worth nearly Rs 7,300 crore, including major investments in infrastructure and public services.
In Imphal, he will inaugurate projects valued at more than Rs 1,200 crore, which include a new police headquarters, a state civil secretariat, and drainage management initiatives.
The projects are part of a larger package of development initiatives across five northeastern states, worth a total of Rs 71,850 crore. Officials said the focus in Manipur would be on rebuilding basic facilities and creating opportunities for both the hill and valley regions, which have been divided since the outbreak of violence in May 2023.
The Prime Minister is also scheduled to interact with internally displaced persons, a step described as a “healing touch” by the government. More than 60,000 people remain uprooted, with many unable to return to their homes due to deep mistrust and security concerns.
Security has been tightened across the state ahead of the visit, with army officials conducting high-level reviews and the state government imposing restrictions, including a ban on air guns in Churachandpur. The visit, however, has not been free from controversy.
Opposition parties have criticised Modi for delaying his trip and described the short duration of the visit as symbolic rather than substantive. Civil society groups, including the influential Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (Cocomi), have urged the Prime Minister to ensure that the visit results in concrete steps toward justice and reconciliation.
Manipur has remained under Governor’s rule since early this year after the resignation of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, and questions continue over the restoration of an elected government. Meanwhile, ethnic divisions between the Kuki-Zo communities in the hills and the Meitei-majority valley remain entrenched, with calls for separate administrative arrangements adding to the political uncertainty.
The Prime Minister’s visit is being closely watched, as it is seen as a test of the Centre’s ability to restore peace, rehabilitate the displaced, and revive democratic governance in the troubled state.