Imphal/Churachandpur
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday made his first visit to strife-torn Manipur since ethnic violence broke out in May 2023, sending out a strong message of peace, unity and development from the northeastern State’s hills and valley regions.
The Prime Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for development projects worth nearly Rs 7,000 crore from Churachandpur aimed at upgrading health and education infrastructure, improving road connectivity and expanding drinking water and electricity access. Modi also inaugurated multiple development projects worth over Rs 1,200 crore in Imphal, including the long-awaited Civil Secretariat at Mantripukhri, a new Police Headquarters, the IT SEZ Building, Manipur Bhawans at Delhi and Kolkata, and four new Ima Markets—unique women-run markets in the state’s districts.
Addressing gatherings in Churachandpur and Imphal, the Prime Minister said the people of Manipur had shown remarkable courage and determination despite facing a turbulent phase and assured that his government would “stand shoulder-to-shoulder with every citizen of Manipur” until normalcy was fully restored.
“This land of Manipur is a land of courage and determination. These hills are a precious gift of nature, and at the same time, these hills are also a symbol of the continuous hard work of all of you,” Modi said, receiving applause despite heavy rain. “I salute the spirit of the people of Manipur. Today, I can say with confidence that a new dawn of hope and confidence is awaiting Manipur.”
Modi travelled by road to Churachandpur after his helicopter could not fly due to bad weather. “My heart says that God did well that my helicopter didn’t fly today. On the road, I saw the love and affection shown by everyone, from young to old, holding the Tricolour. I can never forget this moment in my life,” he said.
Meets Internally Displaced Persons
The Prime Minister held separate interactions with internally displaced persons (IDPs) at relief camps in Churachandpur and Imphal, assuring them that their rehabilitation and safe return to their homes was a “top priority” for the Government of India.
Modi personally met camp residents, including women, children and elders, listening to their concerns over security, education, livelihood, and access to healthcare. “I understand the pain of being uprooted from one’s home,” he said. “No citizen should have to live away from their land in fear. My government is committed to helping every affected family rebuild their lives with dignity.”
The Prime Minister informed the IDPs that the Centre had cleared funds for 7,000 new houses and released Rs 500 crore for immediate rehabilitation. He directed officials to speed up construction of homes, ensure schooling for displaced children, and extend Ayushman Bharat health coverage to all camp residents.
Modi also urged community leaders to work together to restore peace, saying that “lasting harmony between the hills and the valley is the key to Manipur’s future.”
Modi devoted a significant part of his speeches to calling for peace and reconciliation after nearly 18 months of ethnic violence that has claimed over 200 lives and displaced thousands.
“Establishing peace is essential for development anywhere,” he said. “I urge all organisations and groups to move forward on the path of peace, fulfil their dreams, and secure the future of their children. The Government of Bharat is with you, the people of Manipur, and will continue to work to restore normalcy.”
He informed that the Centre has approved the construction of 7,000 new houses for displaced families and cleared a special package worth nearly Rs 3,000 crore, including Rs 500 crore specifically for rehabilitation of those living in relief camps. “Helping those affected by violence return to normal life is a top priority for our government,” he asserted.
Highlighting the Centre’s focus on improving connectivity in the border state, the PM said that in recent years, Rs 3,700 crore has been spent on National Highways in Manipur and work is underway on new highways with an investment of Rs 8,700 crore.
“The Jiribam–Imphal railway line, with an investment of Rs 22,000 crore, will soon connect Imphal with the rest of the country,” Modi said, calling it a “game-changer for the state’s economy.” He also cited the recently built Rs 400 crore Imphal Airport terminal and newly launched helicopter services as examples of how air connectivity is being transformed.
“Connectivity here has always been a major challenge. I fully understand the difficulties you have faced due to the lack of good roads. Today, hundreds of villages have been provided with road connectivity and this is benefiting the people living in the hills and the tribal areas,” he said.
The Prime Minister stressed that the development of tribal communities remains a central priority for his government. “For the first time, the ‘Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan’ is underway to promote development in tribal areas. Development works are being carried out in over 500 villages of Manipur,” he said.
Modi announced that 18 Eklavya Model Residential Schools are being constructed in Manipur to provide quality education to tribal children. “Modernization of schools and colleges will significantly enhance educational opportunities in the hill districts,” he said, adding that the medical college at Churachandpur was now operational and would produce new doctors for the region.
Emphasizing women empowerment, Modi noted that four new Ima Markets had been inaugurated and said more working women’s hostels were being built. “The culture of Manipur has always promoted ‘Nari Shakti’ and our government is committed to empowering the daughters of this state,” he remarked.
Modi said that thousands of poor families in Manipur had benefited from the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, with nearly 60,000 houses built so far. “Our government has also pledged to free you from electricity woes, and as a result, more than one lakh families in Manipur have received free electricity connections,” he said.
Under the Har Ghar Nal Se Jal scheme, piped water connections have expanded from 30,000 households to more than 3.5 lakh households. “Very soon, every family in Manipur will receive tap water,” Modi promised. On healthcare, the Prime Minister pointed out that nearly 2.5 lakh patients had availed free treatment worth over Rs 350 crore under Ayushman Bharat.
Modi celebrated Manipur’s unique cultural and sporting identity, recalling that without Manipuri culture, Indian culture was incomplete. “As India emerges as a global sports powerhouse, the responsibility of Manipur’s youth has increased further,” he said, adding that the National Sports University in Manipur, the Marjing Polo Complex with the world’s tallest polo statue, and an Olympian Park were all efforts to honour the state’s athletes.
He also said GST cuts on several goods and services, including cement and construction materials, soap, shampoo, and hotel services, will make life more affordable and help boost tourism and small businesses in the state.
Concluding his visit, Modi said: “In the 21st century, India is moving forward with a singular goal — the goal of a developed India. And achieving this goal requires the development of Manipur. Manipur lacks no capability. We must continuously strengthen the path of dialogue and build a strong bridge of harmony between the hills and the valley. I am confident that Manipur will become a powerful centre of India’s growth.”
Modi’s visit comes just months ahead of key political contests in the region, and observers say it could re-energise the BJP’s base while reassuring the hill tribes that their concerns are being addressed. The Prime Minister himself made a pointed remark that “the 21st century belongs to the East and the North East” and promised that Manipur would not be left behind.
“There was a time when announcements made in Delhi would take decades to be implemented here. Today, our Churachandpur and our Manipur are progressing along with the rest of the nation,” he said, linking his government’s record with a promise of faster delivery.
The Opposition, which had frequently criticised Modi for not visiting Manipur during the peak of the violence, said the visit was “long overdue”.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge lashed out at Modi ahead of his visit to Manipur, calling it a “pit stop” that amounts to tokenism and a “grave insult” to those affected by the state’s continuing ethnic violence. In a lengthy post on X, Kharge accused the Prime Minister of failing to visit Manipur for over two years despite 864 days of violence that, he said, claimed nearly 300 lives, displaced 67,000 people and left over 1,500 injured.
Calling the visit a “hush-hush pit stop,” Kharge said it was not an act of repentance but a “grand welcome ceremony for yourself” and a “cruel prick to the wounds” of those still suffering. “This hush-hush pit stop isn’t repentance. It’s not even guilt,” he added.
“Your so-called roadshow in Imphal and Churachandpur today is nothing but a cowardly escape from hearing the cries of people in relief camps,” he wrote.
Kharge also alleged that Modi had made 46 foreign trips during this period but “not a single visit to share two words of sympathy with your own citizens.” “This hush-hush PIT STOP isn’t repentance. It’s not even guilt,” he said.
