Imphal: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on his first visit to violence-affected Manipur since the outbreak of ethnic clashes in 2023, urged the people of the state to build bridges of harmony between the hill and valley communities. Stressing that peace is essential for progress, he appealed to all groups to set aside divisions and work together for inclusive development.

During his visit, Modi inaugurated and laid foundation stones for development projects worth more than Rs 8,500 crore. In Churachandpur, a hill district with a large Kuki population, projects worth around Rs 7,300 crore were launched, while in Imphal, the state capital located in the valley, 17 projects worth approximately Rs 1,200 crore were inaugurated. These include the new Civil Secretariat at Mantripukhri, an IT Special Economic Zone, new Ima markets, police headquarters, and infrastructure facilities aimed at boosting employment and connectivity.

Acknowledging the suffering of those displaced by the violence, Modi announced that 7,000 new houses have been approved for affected families. The government has also rolled out a special relief package of about Rs 3,000 crore to support rehabilitation and rebuilding efforts.

In his address, the Prime Minister said that violence was a great injustice to both ancestors and future generations, and that the people of Manipur must choose peace to ensure progress. He called for dialogue between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, underlining that the government is actively engaging with different groups to resolve grievances.

At the same time, several Kuki-Zo legislators submitted a memorandum to Modi, expressing concerns over what they described as ethnic persecution and displacement from the valley areas. They called for a long-term political settlement to ensure security and justice for their people.

The Prime Minister’s visit is seen as both symbolic and practical, as it combines an appeal for reconciliation with significant investment in the state’s infrastructure and social rebuilding. However, questions remain about how quickly displaced persons will be resettled and whether development initiatives will be matched by effective measures to rebuild trust between communities.

The Manipur conflict, which began in May 2023 over disputes related to Scheduled Tribe status and resource allocation, has displaced tens of thousands of people and left deep divisions. Modi’s message emphasized that only unity between the hills and valley can secure the state’s future.