PM pledges peace and development in first Manipur visit since start of 2023 violence

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Manipur today amid heavy rainfall, meeting people displaced by the ethnic conflict that broke out in the state in May of 2023 and urging for reconciliation, as he said that the Centre stood firmly with the people of the state in restoring peace and normality and bringing back the state to the path of progress.

- STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Imphal/Churachandpur, 13 September

Mr Modi addressed two public meetings, first at Churachandpur in the south of the state and later at the Kangla in Imphal, the ancient seat of power of the Manipur kingdom. In both Churachandpur and Imphal, the Prime Minister urged reconciliation, appealing to the people of Manipur to move forward towards peace, progress, and prosperity.

The Prime Minister laid the foundation stones for multiple development projects worth over Rs 7,300 crore at Churachandpur and inaugurated multiple development projects worth more than Rs 1,200 crore at Imphal.

It was so raining hard in both Mizoram and Manipur today that the helicopter meant to be ferrying Prime Minister Modi from Aizawl in Mizoram and Churachandpur and Imphal in Manipur could not take off.

Mr Modi flew to Imphal's Tulihal from Aizawl's Lungleh Airport and took the 60 kilometre journey to Churachandpur by road where he met representatives of IDPs belonging to the Kuki Zo community who fled the Imphal valley and later addressed a public gathering at the Tuibong Peace Ground.