PM Narendra Modi likely to visit Manipur in September for the first time since 2023 ethnic clashes

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit ethnic violence-hit Manipur mid-September, the first time in 28 months after the north-eastern state witnessed violence between tribes.

Modi is expected to visit state capital Imphal and Churachandpur during his visit and meet violence-hit people, who are displaced in the violence that started on 3 May, 2023.

The visit comes amid Congress and other Opposition parties have been criticising Modi for not visiting the state, which has been put under President's Rule in February and extended by another six months in August.

The Prime Minister's Manipur visit is likely to be clubbed with his tour of Mizoram and Assam, which is scheduled between September 12 and 14 where he is expected to inaugurate key infrastructure projects.

Officials said Manipur administration has been sounded to strengthen security in the state. In the past few months, incidents of violence have not been reported barring a few stray incidents.

On July 30, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said in Lok Sabha that no deaths due to violence have been reported in Manipur in the last four months. He said only one person was killed in an incident in the past eight months.

On Friday as Modi headed to China and Japan, Congress General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh said, "even as the PM jets off abroad, the long-suffering people of Manipur are still awaiting his visit there to heal the wounds of May 2023."

"But the PM simply and stubbornly refuses to engage with the state, its political parties and leaders, civil society organisations, and the people themselves. He has simply washed his hands off Manipur - which stands as a tragic testimony to the blundering of the Union Home Minister," Ramesh added.