Churachandpur, Sep 13: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday vowed to transform strife-torn Manipur into a symbol of peace and prosperity, urging all groups to shun violence and asserting that the Centre was standing firmly with the people of the state.
Addressing a public meeting in Kuki-dominated Churachandpur district during his first visit to Manipur after ethnic violence broke out in May 2023, Modi said a “new dawn of hope and trust” was rising in the state.
“A short while ago, I met the affected people at a relief camp. After meeting them, I can say with confidence that a new dawn of hope and trust is rising in Manipur,” he said.
Hailing Manipur as the land of hope and aspiration, Modi said that “unfortunately, violence had cast its shadow on this beautiful region”.
“For development to take root anywhere, peace is essential. In the last 11 years, many conflicts and disputes in the Northeast have been resolved. People have chosen the path of peace and given priority to development,” he said.
The PM said the Centre’s sustained engagement with all sides, through dialogue and development, would bring back normalcy.
“I appeal to all organisations that moving on the path of peace will help realise your dreams. Secure the future of your children. And I promise you today that I am with you. The Centre is with you, with the people of Manipur,” he said, drawing a loud applause.
The PM, who has faced sharp opposition criticism for not travelling to Manipur despite the prolonged unrest in which over 260 people had been killed and thousands were rendered homeless, underlined that the Centre’s efforts were already yielding results.
“We have seen that recently in the Hills and the Valley… negotiations have taken place for agreements with different groups. These are part of the efforts of the Government of India to establish peace while giving importance to dialogue, respect, and mutual understanding,” he said.
Modi travelled to Churachandpur from Imphal by road as his helicopter could not take off due to inclement weather.
A large number of people lined the roads to greet him, holding the tricolour and placards.
“The love I received on the way to Churachandpur, I will never forget in my life,” Modi said.
Before addressing the public meeting, he interacted with families displaced by the violence at a relief camp and laid the foundation stones for projects worth more than Rs 7,300 crore.
“For Manipur’s development, for the resettlement of displaced families, and for the establishment of peace, the Centre will continue to support the Manipur government in every possible way,” he said.
Improving connectivity in the state was a central part of the PM’s address.
Modi said that since 2014, the Centre has invested Rs 3,700 crore for upgrading the existing national highways in Manipur, while another Rs 8,700 crore was being spent on new highways.
“The Jiribam-Imphal railway line, with an outlay of Rs 22,000 crore, will soon connect the state capital with the national rail network. This will change the face of Manipur’s economy. Similarly, the Rs 400-crore modernisation of Imphal airport is giving new heights to air connectivity,” he said.
In the education and healthcare sectors, Modi highlighted a marked shift in the hill districts, which he said had long been neglected.
“Earlier, good schools and hospitals in the Hills and tribal areas were only a dream. Today, with the Centre’s efforts, this situation is changing. In Churachandpur, a medical college has now been established. New doctors are coming out and healthcare has improved,” he said.
It was the BJP-led government, he stressed, that had set up the first-ever medical colleges in the tribal hills, decades after Independence.
“Through Ayushman Bharat, more than 2.5 lakh patients in Manipur have received free treatment of up to Rs 5 lakh,” he said.
The PM also drew attention to improvements in basic amenities. He said the government has built permanent houses for the poor across the country, with thousands of families in Manipur benefiting.
“Seven to eight years back, water came through pipes to only 25-30,000 houses. Today, more than 3.5 lakh houses here have the facility,” he said.
Asserting that India was poised to become the world’s third-largest economy, Modi said the government was determined to ensure that the fruits of development reach every corner of the country, including the remotest parts of the Northeast.
Modi said, “The name Manipur itself has ‘mani’, and this is the gem that will shine for the entire Northeast in the times to come. The Centre has been consistently striving to take Manipur forward on the path of development. As part of this effort, I am here today among all of you.”
Concluding his address, Modi said, “I would appeal to all organisations to move forward on the path of peace and fulfil their dreams. Secure the future of your children.” (PTI)
