IMPHAL/GUWAHATI: PM Narendra Modi’s face on saffron billboards and posters bearing the legend “Viksit Bharat Viksit Manipur” and a flurry of administrative activity formalised on Thursday his much-anticipated visit to the conflict-ridden state on Sept 13.As Imphal and Churachandpur woke up to official confirmation of the prime ministerial visit, the United Naga Council suspended its trade embargo across Naga-inhabited areas along the state’s transport lifeline NH-2 since midnight on Sept 8.The blockade, enforced in protest against what the Naga community terms “unilateral abrogation” of the India-Myanmar Free Movement Regime, was temporarily lifted after chief secretary Puneet Kumar Goel assured UNC that the Union govt would engage in a dialogue with all stakeholders before fencing the international border.PM Modi’s engagements on his first trip to Manipur since the ethnic conflict flared up 29 months ago will be limited to the Meitei-majority Imphal valley and the Kuki heartland of Churachandpur in the hills.The billboards that sprang up in Imphal overnight announce that the PM will initiate development schemes budgeted at over Rs 7,300 crore at Churachandpur’s Peace Ground and inaugurate Rs 1,200 crore worth of projects at Imphal’s historic Kangla. Traffic restrictions will kick in a day ahead of the PM’s visit all along the PM’s route. The Churachandpur administration issued a general public advisory that urges residents not to take children below 12 to the venue of Modi’s rally.Late Thursday, vandals targeted banners, flags and floral decorations along the road leading to Peace Ground, prompting security forces to clamp further restrictions on civilian movement in the area. The security overdrive led to a confrontation with villagers at Pearson village, near Churachandpur, sources said.With inputs from Donald Sairem
