Pitch for peace, infra push, outreach to displaced

ON HIS FIRST visit to Manipur since the onset of ethnic conflict in the state in May 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday addressed separate gatherings in Churachandpur and Imphal.

- DEEPTIMAN TIWARY New Delhi, September 13

While in the Kuki-Zo-dominated hill district of Churachandpur, PM Modi met victims in relief camps and sought to reassure displaced tribal communities; in the valley's Imphal he reached out to Meiteis, underlining Manipur's role in India's growth story. In both his speeches, Modi's themes were consistent: peace as a precondition for progress, reconciliation between the hills and the valley, infrastructure and welfare as bridges, and renewed focus on local governance, women, and youth. Here are six key takeaways from the PM's speeches: