IMPHAL: Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins a two-day tour of the Northeast on Saturday, combining outreach with a ₹36,000-crore development package aimed both at reviving conflict-hit Manipur and boosting the region’s economic growth.
Modi will arrive in Churachandpur—the Kuki heartland—by helicopter from Mizoram to address a rally at Peace Ground and launch projects worth ₹7,300 crore. Later, he will travel to Imphal’s historic Kangla Fort to inaugurate another ₹1,200 crore in development schemes.
This marks his first visit to Manipur since ethnic clashes erupted in May 2023, after a high court order to consider ST status for the Meiteis sparked violent protests from Kukis. The unrest left more than 260 people dead and over 60,000 displaced, forcing the resignation of CM N. Biren Singh in February this year and the imposition of President’s Rule. Modi is also expected to meet those still living in relief camps.
While anticipation runs high, the proscribed Meitei militant conglomerate CorCom has announced a statewide shutdown to protest the visit, calling it part of a “proxy war” by the Centre. Authorities have deployed over 10,000 personnel from police, CRPF, BSF, Assam Rifles, and disaster response teams amid IMD warnings of heavy rain and thunderstorms.
“Peace is not just the absence of violence but the presence of trust, harmony and reconciliation. The PM’s visit will pave the way for normalcy and growth,” chief secretary Puneet Kumar Goel said, stressing Manipur’s role as a gateway to Southeast Asia under India’s Act East Policy.
In Mizoram, Modi will inaugurate the ₹8,070-crore Bairabi-Sairang rail line linking Aizawl with the national network, and flag off three new trains including a Rajdhani Express. He will also lay the foundation for the Chhimtuipui river bridge, expected to cut travel time by two hours and boost trade under the Kaladan Multimodal Transit framework.
The tour will conclude in Assam, where Modi will attend events marking the birth centenary of Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika.
