PM Modi to visit Manipur tomorrow, first in two years of ethnic clash

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Manipur on Saturday, in a first-ever visit to the north-east state since ethnic clashes erupted. 

Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel in Imphal said, "PM's Saturday visit to Manipur will pave the way for peace, normalcy, and growth in the state." 

There has been repeated criticism from the opposition over PM Modi's absence from Manipur ever since ethnic clashes broke out between the Kuki and Meitei communities of the state two years ago. The violence has claimed nearly 260 lives while displacing thousands of others since May 2023. 

PM Modi will visit the northeastern states of Manipur and Mizoram, where he will unveil projects worth thousands of crores. He is set to inaugurate the Bairabi-Sairang railway line project. 

From Churuchandpur, a Kuki-majority area in Manipur, he will lay foundation stones of development projects worth Rs 7,300 crore. While from the Meitei majority city Imphal, the Prime Minister will inaugurate infrastructure projects valued at Rs 1,200 crore. 

Ahead of the scheduled visit on Saturday, the Manipur Government on Thursday installed a large billboard announcing PM Modi's programmes at Peace Ground in Churuchandpur and Kangla Fort in Imphal. 

The state government also issued an advisory for the people attending the VVIP event at Peace Ground, with instructions about what to carry and what not to. It has also been advised to refrain from bringing children below the age of 12 and any unwell people. Air guns have already been banned in the Churuchandpur district, with tightened security measures at both places. 

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi welcomed PM Modi's visit to Manipur. He was in Junagarh, Gujarat, where he stated that the Manipur unrest had been persisting for a while. 

While addressing the media, he said, "The issue in Manipur has been ongoing for a long time. It is good that he is going there now." 

However, the Congress General Secretary in charge of Communications, Jairam Ramesh, called the "preparations" ahead of the PM's visit an "insult" to the people of Manipur.

Sharing a newspaper clipping on his X account, he said, "The proposed visit of the Prime Minister to Manipur on September 13 is being hailed by his cheerleaders. But it appears that he will be spending just about 3 hours-- yes, just 3 hours-- in the state. What does he hope to accomplish by such a rushed trip?" 

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) September 12, 2025

Adding, "This is actually an insult to the people of the state who have waited for him for 29 long and agonising months. September 13th will actually be a non-visit by the PM, who has once again revealed his callousness and insensitivity toward the people of Manipur."