NE suffered heavily due to ‘vote bank politics’
IMPHAL/CHURACHANDPUR, Sept 13: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday vowed to transform Manipur into a “symbol of peace and prosperity” as he urged all groups to shun violence, assuring the people that the Centre stood firmly with them in rebuilding lives torn apart by the ethnic conflict.
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Modi, who landed amidst heavy rain in Manipur’s capital Imphal on his maiden visit to the state after ethnic clashes erupted in May 2023 between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, described the State as the “ratna” adorning the crown of “mother India” and lauded the role of the “valiant sons” of Manipur in the success of Operation Sindoor.
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Terming any violence in Manipur “unfortunate”, Modi struck a note of healing, reassurance, and confidence as he listened to the concerns of the families of internally displaced persons (IDPs) at the historic Kangla Fort complex in Imphal and Peace Ground in Churachandpur.
The ethnic clashes two years ago have left over 260 people dead and more than 60,000 displaced, many of whom are still living in relief camps.
During his visit, the Prime Minister also inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for development projects worth Rs 8,500 crore.
Stressing that the only way forward was to build a “bridge of trust” between the Hills, home to the Kuki community, and the Valley, dominated by the Meiteis, Modi, in his public meeting in Kuki-dominated Churachandpur district, said a “new dawn of hope and trust” was rising in the state.
“India is moving forward with a singular goal, the goal of Vikshit Bharat and achieving this goal requires the development of Manipur,” he said.
“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: “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.
He 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.
The PM, who has faced sharp opposition criticism for not travelling to Manipur despite the prolonged unrest in which over 260 people have been killed and thousands were rendered homeless, underlined that the Centre’s efforts were already yielding results.
“Manipur is the ‘Mani ratna’ adorning the crown of ‘Mother India’. Any form of violence here is condemnable. It is not only unfortunate but also a grave injustice to our ancestors and future generations.
Together, we must take Manipur forward on the path of peace and development,” Modi told a packed gathering at the historic Kangla Fort in Imphal, dominated by Meiteis.
“I appeal to all organisations to move forward on the path of peace and fulfil your dreams. Secure the future of your children. And I promise you today, I am with you. The Government of India is with you, with the people of Manipur,” he said in Churachandpur.
Modi travelled to Churachandpur from Imphal by road as his helicopter could not take off due to inclement weather. Along the way, a large number of people lined up to greet him with 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 displaced families at a relief camp and laid the foundation stones for a slew of projects worth more than Rs 7,300 crore.
At Aizawal, Narendra Modi said that the northeastern region earlier suffered heavily due to ‘vote bank’ politics, but is now being transformed into the country’s growth engine due to efforts of the BJP-led government at the Centre.
During his second visit to Mizoram after becoming the Prime Minister in 2014, Modi launched projects worth Rs 9,000 crore, and addressed a public rally virtually from Lengpui Airport near Aizawl as he could not reach the venue, Lammual Ground in the heart of the city, due to heavy rain.
Modi also flagged off the maiden Rajdhani Express between Aizawl and Delhi and other strategic projects to augment rail, highways, energy and sports infrastructure.
“For a long time, some political parties in our country practiced vote-bank politics. Their focus was always on places that had more votes and seats. The entire Northeast, including states like Mizoram, suffered greatly because of this attitude.
“But our approach is very different — those who were earlier neglected are at the forefront now. Those who were once marginalised are now in the mainstream. For the past 11 years, we have been working for the development of the Northeast, and the region is becoming the growth engine of India,” the PM said.
He said Mizoram plays a major role in the Centre’s ‘Act East’ policy and the Kaladan multimodal transit project and railway lines will connect the state with Southeast Asia.
Unveiling the Rs 8,070-crore Bairabi-Sairang line, which integrated landlocked Mizoram fully with the country’s railway network, the PM said it was a historic day for the state as the 51.38-km-long stretch would connect the state capital Aizawl with major metropolises.
He said the project, which was implemented by overcoming various challenges and difficult terrains, would revolutionise people’s lives in the state and become a lifeline for transportation.
The PM also flagged off three new express trains connecting Aizawl with Delhi, Guwahati and Kolkata.
“This is not just a railway connection, it is a lifeline of transformation. Farmers and businesses of Mizoram can reach more markets across the nation. People will be able to access more options for education and healthcare. This will also create employment opportunities in tourism, transport and hospitality sectors,” he said.
“Whether it was the freedom movement or nation-building, the people of Mizoram always come forward to contribute. Today, the state is playing an important role in India’s development journey,” Modi said.
The Centre has worked towards ensuring all-round connectivity in the Northeast — be it internet, power, infrastructure or through air, he said.
“Mizoram will also benefit from the UDAN scheme for air travel. Soon, helicopter services will begin here. This will improve access to remote areas of the state,” he added. (PTI)
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