The local inhabite communities view the Prime Minister’s visit through his belated intervention as political gimmick rather than genuine reconciliation.
The Prime Minister has landed in the North-Eastern region of the country, his first since the violence began – will bring him to both Churachandpur and Imphal, the symbolic hearts of the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities. He is expected to inaugurate development projects reportedly worth INR 8,500 crore and interact with the displaced persons, living out of relief camps.
PM Modi’s decision to visit Manipur comes nearly 28 months after the outbreak of violence in May 2023. During this period, families displaced by the clashes have remained in relief camps across Churachandpur, Imphal East, and other districts, often without durable rehabilitation. Survivors continue to recount killings, sexual violence, and the absence of justice, while for many, Modi’s prolonged silence symbolised abandonment.
The visit comes amid constant criticism by opposition parties for not visiting the state, following the ethnic strife between the Kuki and Meitei communities, which has left over 260 people dead and thousands homeless since May 2023 as of today.
The ruling party’s Kuki legislators too have had it tough. In 2023, they made repeated attempts to secure an appointment with the Prime Minister but were denied – a development that underscored the broader marginalization of their community. For the Kuki tribe, the visit represents an opportunity to put forth their long-standing demands, including the call for a separate administration.
Meanwhile, for the Meitei community, this impending visit is a litmus to find out whether Delhi will genuinely acknowledge their grievances.
What is the SoO pact?
The SoO pact, first signed in 2008 between the Centre, the Manipur government, and more than two dozen Kuki-Zo armed groups, was designed to limit hostilities by confining cadres to designated camps.
On September 4, the Centre signed a revised and renewed SoO pact with Kuki-Zo insurgent groups which established a framework for dialogue and also included stricter terms, such as the reaffirmation of Manipur’s ‘territorial integrity’.
8500 Crore Investments
- Mizoram to receive its 1st State Line – The North-Eastern state of Mizoram, often not spoken about, will see its capital Aizawl on a railway map, as PM Modi announced Sairang in Mizoram will be connected directly with the capital, Delhi by the Rajdhani Express, an ambitious project estimated to be around INR 8070 crores.
- In addition, the PM will inaugurate the new Manipur Police Headquarters built at a cost of INR 101 crore at Mantripukhri in Imphal and a civil secretariat, constructed at a cost of INR 538 crore, in the same locality.
- From the affected area of Churachandpur, PM Modi will lay the foundation stone for various projects, including the drainage and asset management improvement project worth a whopping INR 3647 crore and the Manipur Infotech Development project, at around INR 550 crores.
- The Prime Minister had also emphasised the progress of ‘Make in India’ and exports, linking economic and manufacturing growth to national security, citing Operation Sindoor where Made-in-India weapons played a key role, noting that the country’s economy grew by 7.8% in the first quarter of 2025-26, making it the fastest-growing major economy in the world.
N. Biren Singh, the incumbent Chief Minister of Manipur, who has been a BJP representative since 2017, has conveyed his optimism and delight on the much-awaited visit of the country’s apex leader and is hopeful that post the necessary interactions, concrete solutions can be taken out to resolve the civil unrest and bring the two colliding community forces to a mutual agreement and restore normalcy in the state.
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