On PM Modi’s tentative itinerary for Manipur visit: Rehabilitation package, meeting with displaced people

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to meet people displaced by the conflict in Manipur and announce a rehabilitation package during his visit to the state, which is expected to take place later this week. However, efforts to convince Nagas in the state not to go ahead with their scheduled “trade embargo” from Tuesday have not succeeded, presenting the administration with a challenge.
A tentative itinerary of the PM’s visit on September 13 — his first since ethnic conflict began in Manipur in May 2023 — was discussed at a meeting between Governor Ajay Bhalla and legislators of the ruling alliance at the Raj Bhavan on Sunday. Former Chief Minister N Biren Singh, Speaker Th Satyabrata Singh, and state BJP chief A Sharda Devi were among those present at the meeting. The Governor urged the legislators to engage with their constituencies to minimise tensions before the visit, The Indian Express has learnt. According to sources, the MLAs were also asked to get people from their areas to attend the PM’s address.
The PM is likely to meet the displaced people at the venues of his two public meetings, as, according to sources, he may not visit relief camps because of a paucity of time and security concerns. He may also lay the foundation of some development projects.
According to the broad plan, Modi is likely to arrive in Kuki-Zo-majority Churachandpur around noon and address a public gathering at the Peace Ground. Sources said MLAs from Kuki areas and civil society representatives were expected to be in attendance at the event. From there, he is expected to take a helicopter to Kangla Fort in Imphal by 2 pm for his second public meeting. MLAs from the Valley and civil society members are likely to be present there along with the general public.
Though the seating arrangement for the dais has not yet been prepared, sources said as of now, only Bhalla was likely to be present on the stage along with the PM. However, either Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs from the state or eminent personalities might be given space on the dais. The PM is expected to leave for Imphal airport by 3.30 pm and head to Assam.

Naga ‘trade embargo’

With the United Naga Council (UNC) announcing a “trade embargo” starting at midnight, the Governor met with its representatives to urge the outfits to withdraw it. Sources said the Naga outfit’s representatives were assured that their demands would be looked into and that they should let the PM’s visit pass off peacefully. A government official said the administration was “hopeful of a positive outcome”, but UNC president Ng Lorho told The Indian Express that as of Monday evening, his outfit had not changed its position and was preparing to impose the “embargo” in all Naga-majority districts.
“Nothing has changed with the meeting because they did not give us any commitment on our demands. They verbally requested us to call off the embargo but we cannot do that. We are strong on our demand and we will impose a complete embargo on any goods entering the state. We are very serious about it, and this embargo will not just affect the other communities but the Nagas as well. It will be implemented by volunteers across all the national highways, state highways and inter-village highways in the districts,” he said.
Last week, the UNC announced that in response to the Centre’s “unilateral” withdrawal from the Free Movement Regime (FMR) on the India-Myanmar border and the construction of a fence along the border, it was going ahead with the “embargo”. This had the security establishment worried as key highways through which goods enter the state, including National Highway-2 and NH-37, pass through Naga-majority districts such as Senapati and Tamenglong and a blockade will cast a shadow on the visit.
The Manipur administration is hopeful that Kukis will honour their commitment to keep the Kangpokpi stretch of NH-2 free of any incident and maintain order in other Kuki-dominated areas. “Kukis had given a warm welcome to the Union Home Minister during his visit. They are eagerly waiting for the PM’s visit. It is unlikely any incident will take place,” said an intelligence official.