Modi Visits Manipur to Promote Peace After Deadly Ethnic Clashes

TDT | Manama

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made his first visit to the northeastern state of Manipur on Saturday since violent ethnic clashes claimed over 250 lives two years ago.

The visit forms part of a three-day tour that also takes him to Assam, which shares a border with Bangladesh, and Bihar, India’s third-most populous state with more than 130 million residents.

Bihar, considered a crucial electoral battleground ahead of elections expected in October or November, is the only state in India’s northern Hindi-speaking heartland where Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has never governed alone. During his visit, Modi is set to announce $8 billion in investments, covering agricultural initiatives, railway projects, road upgrades, and an airport terminal.

Manipur has remained deeply divided since May 2023, when violence erupted between the predominantly Hindu Meitei majority and the largely Christian Kuki community. The unrest displaced tens of thousands, many of whom continue to live in temporary government-run camps.

Speaking to a large gathering in Churachandpur, a Kuki-majority town, Modi said: “In order to bring life back on track in Manipur, the government of India is making all possible efforts. I promise you today that I’m with you. The government of India is with the people of Manipur.” He also urged all communities to pursue peace, saying it was essential to realizing their aspirations.

Modi was also scheduled to address a rally in Imphal, the Meitei-dominated state capital. His previous visit to the state, which borders Myanmar and lies about 1,700 kilometers (1,050 miles) from New Delhi, was in 2022.