Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Manipur tomorrow, his first trip to the state since ethnic violence broke out in May 2023, the chief secretary of the state said in a confirmation.
Though speculations regarding the visit had been rife for quite some time, there had not been any formal confirmation until now.
Addressing the press on Friday, Manipur Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel said that PM Modi would be reaching Churachandpur district from Aizawl, Mizoram, at about 12:30 pm. On his visit, he is likely to interact with people who have been displaced due to the clash between the Meitei and Kuki groups, lay the foundation stone of works worth Rs 7,300 crore in the state, and address a rally at Peace Ground.
The visit to Churachandpur is significant since the district was among the worst affected by the violence, which killed at least 260 people and displaced thousands from their homes.
From Churachandpur, the Prime Minister will then travel to Imphal, the state capital, at about 2:30 pm. There, he will open projects worth Rs 1,200 crore and address a public function.
The tour schedule shows a delicate balance, with Churachandpur almost all Kuki and Imphal almost all Meitei, which highlights the political sensitivity of the trip.
The honourable Prime Minister's visit will open doors for peace, normalcy and fast growth in the state. On behalf of the state government and the government of India, I appeal to the people of Manipur to come forward in receiving the PM to the state and joining the programmes in large numbers," Mr Goel said.
Opposition Criticism
The protests in Manipur started on May 3, 2023, after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' in hill districts protested against the Meitei community's plea for Scheduled Tribe status. The opposition has targeted the Prime Minister for not making an earlier visit to the state.
Previously, the opposition had also moved a no-confidence motion in August 2023, trying to pin the Centre for the scenario in Manipur. The government retaliated by highlighting the Congress party's past failures in the northeast. PM Modi had earlier assured the Manipuri people that the country was with them and that a solution towards peace would soon be realized.
When the visit was speculated upon, Congress leaders labeled it as "too little, too late," nearly two years after the first violence. On Friday, Manipur Congress president Keisham Meghachandra referred to the visit as "merely symbolic."
"I take the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as merely symbolic. People who have been suffering for months, including internally displaced persons staying in relief camps, had expected a concrete roadmap for peace, rehabilitation, and justice... It would have been better if they had let it be known that the visit was related to bringing peace and justice. Very upset with the absence of discussions with all stakeholders," he was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
