Imphal, Sept 7: BJP legislators, including former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, the Chief Secretary, the Security Advisor, and the DGP held a high-level closed-door meeting with Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Sunday to discuss preparations for the “VVIP’s visit”, widely speculated to be Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to Manipur on September 13. However, a separate meeting with other MLAs is yet to be confirmed.
Media reports said Modi was likely to visit the northeastern state on September 13.
A source said Manipur unit BJP president A Sharda Devi and 23 of the BJP’s 32 MLAs attended the meeting.
Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla informed the legislators that the “VVIP” would arrive in Imphal around 2:30 pm on September 13, after visiting Churachandpur earlier in the day.
Preparations for the visit are in full swing. At a meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary on August 30, officials were directed to arrange seating for 15,000 people at Kangla, Imphal, and about 9,000 at Peace Ground, Churachandpur. The government has also instructed the preparation of inauguration and foundation plaques in the format prescribed by the Prime Minister’s Office.
Renovation and beautification works are ongoing in Imphal and Churachandpur, including cleaning and painting at Bir Tikendrajit Imphal International Airport. On September 4, the District Magistrate of Churachandpur declared the district a ‘No Drone Zone’ to strengthen security during the “VVIP visit”.
If the VVIP is the Prime Minister, then this will be Modi’s first visit to Manipur since the outbreak of ethnic violence on May 3, 2023.
