Senior officials of the Manipur government have clarified that there is no official word from the Centre regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s possible visit to the state in the second week of September. The clarification comes amidst growing speculation following reports in certain sections of the media suggesting that the Prime Minister could make a stopover in Manipur while visiting neighbouring Mizoram. According to the reports, Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to reach Mizoram on September 12 and inaugurate the Bairabi-Sairang railway line the following day. This led to speculation that he might combine the trip with a visit to Manipur. However, state officials in Imphal said that they have not received any communication so far from New Delhi on this matter.
A senior government official, when asked about the reports, stated, “No, we do not have any official confirmation from the Centre as of now that the Prime Minister will visit Manipur in the second week of September.” Other officials too echoed the same position, stressing that until a formal message is conveyed, the state government cannot make any preparations. If the visit is confirmed, it would mark the Prime Minister’s first trip to Manipur since violent ethnic clashes broke out in May 2023 between the Meitei and Kuki communities. The violence, which has continued in phases for over two years, has claimed the lives of at least 260 people and displaced thousands of families.
The prolonged unrest has caused immense suffering, leading to the destruction of homes, large-scale displacement, and disruption of normal life. Relief camps continue to house displaced residents, and security remains tight in sensitive districts. Against this backdrop, the possibility of Modi’s visit has drawn widespread public attention, as many view it as politically and symbolically significant. Adding to the uncertainty, Manipur’s lone Rajya Sabha MP, Leishemba Sanajaoba of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), also said that he has no knowledge of any such plan. Speaking to reporters during a public programme in Imphal, Sanajaoba remarked, “I also noticed media reports that the PM will be visiting the state in the second week of September. However, we don’t have any official confirmation regarding that as of now.”
