Chennai: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Manipur, calling it a positive step, especially after the delay following the 2023 violence.
Abdullah said, “Better late than never,” expressing hope that the visit would help restore peace and ease tensions between the state’s tribal communities.
Speaking to reporters, he added, “It’s a good development. There has been much commentary about PM Modi avoiding travel to that region, particularly after the 2023 unrest. As we say, better late than never. It’s encouraging that he is visiting. We hope this leads to the restoration of peace and calm, and that differences between the tribal communities are reduced so that people can live their lives normally.”
This marks PM Modi’s first visit to Manipur since the ethnic conflict erupted in May 2023, a discord between the Meitei and Kuki communities that persisted for years. The conflict has caused lasting damage to the state, affecting its economy, social cohesion, and political stability.
During his visit, the Prime Minister urged the various ethnic groups in Manipur to reject violence and work toward restoring peace, highlighting a new era of “hope and confidence” in the northeastern state.
He also laid the foundation stone for multiple development projects worth over ₹7,300 crore in Churachandpur, Manipur.
On the topic of the upcoming India vs. Pakistan match in the Asia Cup 2025, Omar Abdullah stated that he sees no issue with India playing Pakistan in multilateral tournaments. However, he emphasized that concerns remain due to past incidents, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Our concern has always been with bilateral cricket matches; we have never opposed the multilateral aspect of large tournaments. You cannot ignore the past—my part of the country has been directly affected. We all witnessed what happened in Pahalgam. These are genuine concerns,” Abdullah said.
