Beginning on Thursday, President Droupadi Murmu will travel to Manipur for two days. During her visit, she will take part in the 86th Nupi Lal Day celebration in Imphal, lay foundation stones, and launch a number of development projects in the state capital and the Senapati district, which is home to tribal people.
According to officials, security has been increased in Imphal and the Senapati district, which is primarily home to Naga tribal people, in anticipation of the President’s visit. Many departments and agencies are working closely together to ensure a seamless visit.
President Droupadi Murmu is cordially welcomed to the state by the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC), the highest authority among the Kuki-Zo tribal people of Manipur. After receiving a parade of honor upon her arrival in Imphal on Thursday, the President will go to the famous Imphal Polo Ground (Mapal Kangjeibung) to see a polo exhibition match. The Imphal Polo Ground (Mapal Kangjeibung), one of the world’s oldest polo grounds, hosted the seven-day 15th Manipur International Polo Tournament last month.
The Manipur government will organize a civic welcome for the President in the evening at the City Convention Centre in Imphal. In order to emphasize the Center’s attention on the area, she will also lay the foundation stone and launch a number of development initiatives.
The President will pay her homage to the courageous women warriors of Manipur on December 12 at the Nupi Lal Memorial Complex in Imphal. Nupi Lal, which is observed on December 12 each year, honors two women-led protests against British colonial practices and for the rights and dignity of Manipuri women that took place in 1904 and 1939. She will later speak at a public event in Senapati, a district of Naga residents, where she will lay foundation stones and launch a number of district initiatives.
The 7-kilometer road from Imphal’s Bir Tikendrajit Airport to the Nupi Lal Memorial Complex has been rebuilt, repainted, and decorated with vibrant flags and other materials as part of the President’s visit. In order to welcome the President, large banners have also been erected at various locations along the roadsides leading to the airport.
After Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit on September 13, the President’s visit would be Manipur’s second high-profile visit in three months. During his visit to Manipur on September 13, Prime Minister Modi stated that the Union government is continuously working to improve the state because Viksit Manipur will strengthen Viksit Bharat. He had stated that Manipur has strong and long-standing traditions for combating injustice, hence any form of violence there is regrettable.
PM Modi unveiled 17 infrastructure projects totaling Rs 1,200 crore in Imphal from the famed Kangla Fort. In addition to Ima Markets (all-women markets) at four locations (Tengnoupal, Noney, Pallel, and Moirang), the Prime Minister virtually inaugurated 17 projects in Imphal, including Manipur Bhawan in New Delhi’s Dwarka and Salt Lake City in Kolkata, the Civil Secretariat, the new Police Headquarters, and the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) building at Mantripukhri in Imphal West district. Additionally, the Prime Minister lay the foundation stones for 19 development projects totaling Rs 7,300 crore for various regions of Manipur, starting at the Peace Ground in Churachandpur, a tribal district in the state’s hill regions.
In the meantime, the KZC said in a statement that the President’s visit to the state at this crucial time has great significance and gives hope to people who are still dealing with the effects of the ongoing conflict.
The President is reportedly scheduled to attend a program in the Senapati district and an event in Imphal. “While we acknowledge these engagements, the Kuki-Zo Council sincerely wishes that the President, being a tribal herself, could also visit the Kuki-Zo areas to meet fellow tribal victims who have suffered greatly since the outbreak of violence,” stated Ginza Vualzong, Secretary, Information and Publicity, KZC.
In addition to being the country’s first citizen, President Murmu is highly regarded by the KZC because he recognizes the identity, difficulties, and dignity of the tribal people, he stated.
According to Vualzong, KZC is still optimistic that her visit will bring the long-overlooked issues of Manipur’s tribal people—especially the Kuki-Zo people, who continue to face relocation, insecurity, and targeted violence that amounts to ethnic cleansing—back into the spotlight. The highest tribal body declared, “We urge the President to take note of the humanitarian crisis faced by our people and to use her esteemed office to ensure justice, restoration, and lasting peace in the region.”
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