After a prolonged absence that drew criticism from opposition parties, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Manipur on Saturday, September 13, in what will be his first trip to the state since it was gripped by ethnic violence in May 2023. The visit, which follows the resignation of the state government and the imposition of President’s Rule in February, is seen as a crucial effort to re-establish normalcy and trust between the warring communities.
Modi’s one-day itinerary is strategically designed to include both the Kuki-dominated district of Churachandpur and the Meitei-majority capital of Imphal. The official schedule, released by the state chief secretary’s office, outlines a day focused on development projects and engagement with the people displaced by the violence.
Upon his arrival in Churachandpur at approximately 11:30 am, the Prime Minister will first interact with internally displaced persons (IDPs) who have been living in relief camps. He will then lay the foundation stone for several infrastructure projects and address a public gathering at the Peace Ground.
Later in the day, at around 2:00 pm, Modi will arrive in Imphal at the historic Kangla Fort. Here, he will again interact with IDPs from the Meitei community, inaugurate various development projects, and address another public gathering. The projects, with a total value of ₹8,500 crore, include road and drainage works, an infotech development project, and the two-laning of several sections of national highways. The PM will also virtually inaugurate new Manipur Bhawans in Delhi and Kolkata and a new civil secretariat.
The ethnic violence, which has claimed over 260 lives and displaced more than 60,000 people, began with clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities over the Meiteis’ demand for Scheduled Tribe status. The conflict has since spiraled, fracturing the state’s social fabric and prompting the dismissal of the state government. The dual-location itinerary is widely seen as an attempt to project neutrality and signal that the central government is concerned with the humanitarian crisis affecting both communities.