Prime Minister Narendra Modi kicked off a packed three-day tour across five states on Saturday, focusing on boosting connectivity, self-reliance, and peace in India’s Northeast. His itinerary took him to Mizoram, Manipur, Assam, West Bengal, and Bihar, with a special emphasis on healing wounds in the troubled regions.
In Manipur, where ethnic violence has simmered since May 2023, Modi connected directly with people displaced by the clashes. The state saw brutal conflicts between the valley-based Meitei community and the hill-dwelling Kuki-Zo tribes, triggered by demands for Scheduled Tribe status, land rights disputes, and fears over illegal migration from Myanmar. Hundreds lost their lives, over 60,000 fled their homes, and key roads got blocked by armed groups from both sides. Even the Army faced attacks during their efforts to restore calm.
Despite the violence leading to President’s Rule in February 2025, Modi brought a message of hope during his visit to Churachandpur and Imphal. He inaugurated several development projects and met families in relief camps, assuring them, “Manipur’s land is a soil of hope and aspiration.” He added that a “new dawn of hope and trust” is on the horizon, with peace paving the way for growth.
Modi highlighted how the past 11 years have resolved many long-standing Northeast conflicts, urging people to choose development over division. “Peace is key to progress,” he said, pointing to successful truces that have shifted the region toward stability.
The tour also spotlights ongoing Naga issues in Nagaland and nearby districts. Naga groups have pushed for a “Greater Nagalim” – a larger homeland – since pre-Independence days, leading to ceasefires and talks since the 1990s. But demands for a separate flag, constitution, or redrawing state borders under Articles 3 and 239A remain tricky. The government favors more autonomy for Naga areas but rules out anything that slices into neighboring states.
Adding to the mix, Naga bodies want to scrap the Indo-Myanmar border fence and revive the Free Movement Regime (FMR), which lets border residents travel 16 km visa-free. They argue it protects indigenous rights under UN declarations and preserves ancestral links severed by “arbitrary” lines.
These ethnic conflicts and border tensions have plagued the Northeast for decades, with past governments opting for short-term fixes. Modi’s visit signals fresh momentum – more projects, direct outreach, and real action to untangle these knots. As he put it, “A new dawn of hope and faith is knocking at Manipur’s door,” raising optimism for lasting peace and development across the region.
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