PM Modi Visits Manipur for First Time Since 2023 Violence, Urges All Sides to “Choose Peace”
Imphal / Churachandpur, September 13: Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Manipur on Saturday for the first time since ethnic violence erupted in the state in May 2023. During his brief three-hour visit, the Prime Minister appealed to all groups involved in the conflict to “choose the path of peace” and assured that the central government is committed to restoring normalcy.
Speaking at a public event in Churachandpur, a predominantly Kuki area that witnessed some of the worst violence, Modi said, “I would appeal to all organisations to move forward on the path of peace and fulfil their dreams. The Government of India stands with the people of Manipur.”
The Prime Minister acknowledged recent negotiations between different groups in the hills and valleys, calling them a “positive step” towards peace through “dialogue, respect, and mutual understanding.”
Promise of Support and Development Initiatives
Modi announced the construction of 7,000 new houses for families displaced during the conflict and emphasized the Centre’s ongoing efforts to restore normal life. He highlighted various government schemes and infrastructure projects aimed at developing the northeastern state.
“In the past 11 years, we have resolved many conflicts in the Northeast. Peace brings development,” Modi said, citing achievements such as establishing a medical college in Churachandpur, improved healthcare access through Ayushman Bharat, and expanded piped water supply reaching over 3.5 lakh homes in the state.
Later, at a public meeting in Imphal, a Meitei-majority region, Modi said Manipur is the “ratna (jewel)” in the crown of Mother India, and that violence here is “a grave injustice to both our ancestors and future generations.”
Violence That Shook the State
Manipur has been reeling from ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities since May 2023. The violence was sparked by a court order recommending Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the Meiteis, triggering widespread unrest.
More than 260 people have died, and over 67,000 have been displaced — including around 40,000 from the Kuki-Zo community and 20,000 Meiteis. Thousands continue to live in relief camps across the state.
Development Push
The Prime Minister inaugurated 17 development projects worth ₹1,203 crore in Imphal and laid the foundation stone for additional projects worth ₹7,344 crore in Churachandpur.
“These projects will improve lives, especially for people living in the hills,” he said.
Modi reiterated that India is on track to become the world’s third-largest economy and that every part of the country, including Manipur, should benefit from this progress.
Heavy Security and Road Travel
Due to bad weather, the Prime Minister opted to travel by road from Imphal to Churachandpur. His visit was tightly secured with a heavy deployment of state and central security forces around Kangla Fort in Imphal and Peace Ground in Churachandpur, where the events were held.
Opposition Slams Modi’s Visit as “Tokenism”
The Opposition, especially the Congress, sharply criticized the Prime Minister’s short visit, calling it too little, too late.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge described Modi’s three-hour stopover as a “face-saving farce” and “a grave insult to the people of Manipur.”
In a strongly worded statement, Kharge wrote on social media, “Narendra Modi ji, your 3-hour pit stop in Manipur is not compassion — it’s farce, tokenism, and a grave insult to wounded people… You made 46 foreign trips since the violence began, but not a single visit to comfort your own citizens.”
Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal also said Modi’s visit lacked empathy and was nothing more than a “PR event.”
“Manipur has been burning for over two years, and the PM finds time only now. This isn’t leadership — it’s abdication,” he said.
Despite the criticism, Modi maintained that his government is committed to healing the wounds of the people and ensuring lasting peace in the region.
