Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited the State to a rousing welcome on Sunday. He was accompanied by Union Minister of State for DoNER Dr. Jitendra Singh. It was Amit Shah’s first visit to State as a Home Minister.

During his visit, he dedicated Thoubal Multipurpose Project constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 1998.99 crore and Bishnupur-Tupul-Thoubal-Kasom Khullen road worth Rs. 475.68 crore to the people of the State. He also launched State-wide rollout of e-office.

Later, Amit Shah laid the foundation stones for Churachandpur Medical College (Rs. 325 crore), IIIT Campus, Mantripukhri / Mayangkhang (Rs. 128 crore), IT-SEZ, Mantripukhri (Rs. 950 crore), 3^rd Manipur Bhawan at Dwarka, New Delhi (Rs. 167 crore), State Government Guest House ‘Shanglen’ (Rs. 237.49 crore), Manipur Police headquarters (Rs. 50Crore) and Integrated Command and Control Centre for Imphal Smart City (Rs. 29.50 crore).

Addressing the gathering, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that Manipur had been moving on its path of development under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Shri N. Biren Singh. Projects for which foundation stones were laid today would bring equal development in the State bridging the gap between hill and valley regions, he added. He further stated that the IT Special Economic Zone (IT-SEZ), which foundation was also laid today would take the State to a new platform enabling the youths to stay connected with different countries without leaving the State. The Gross Domestic Product of Manipur would also increase by around 4600 crore rupees once the construction of IT-SEZ completes and starts working, he informed.

Regarding the Churachandpur Medical College, he said that the college would have the capacity to produce 100 doctors every year and they would be able to render their service in different parts of the State. He also suggested N. Biren to open a Forensic Science College in the State with affiliation to National Forensic Science University as students from different parts of the Northeast could get admission to the college. He also assured that the Central Government would be ready to give assistance regarding the matter.

Stating that Modi Government has taken several landmark decisions to empower the people of Manipur, Amit Shah said that Inner Line permit is the biggest gift to the people of Manipur by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The Home Minister congratulated the people of the State on the implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) last year and maintained that the dream of the people was fulfilled only because of the Prime Minister’s much concerned that non-implementation of ILP in Manipur would be unfair to the people of the State. He asked the people of the State to be thankful to the Prime Minister.

Amit Shah also lauded N. Biren Singh for his tireless contribution in making the State bandh and blockade free and bringing the State to the path of development with various policies and projects. He appealed to the Civil Society Organisations of the State to include topics of development in their demands as growth in sectors like health, education among others are the key to the development of a region.

Adding that prosperity and development of North Eastern region is Central Government’s topmost priority, he also maintained that foundation stone laying for various development projects in Imphal today reflects Centre’s unwavering commitment towards the people of Manipur.

In his speech, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh said that the day was memorable as Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who had played a key role in the implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) System in Manipur, was visiting the State. Stating that the Government together with the people made different attempts to introduce a mechanism to protect the indigenous population of the State, he said that different Bills were passed by State Legislative Assembly on different occasions in this regard. However, people could not fulfil their dream for many years, he added.

However, the Central Government under the leadership of Narendra Modi, unexpectedly took the decision of enforcing ILPS in Manipur giving tremendous joy to the people, and Amit Shah took a crucial role in making the historic decision possible, he added. Acclaiming Amit Shah as a man of action who usually talks less, the Chief Minister remembered that the Home Minister asked him what was people’s wish. 

In his speech, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that soon after he was sworn in as the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi declared that India would not develop until the North East develops. Various developmental activities taken up by the Government with Chief Minister N. Biren Singh taking an active role in Manipur is the testimony of what Prime Minister had said six years back, Dr. Jitendra Singh.

Stating that Narendra Modi had visited the North East more than 40 times in the past six years as a Prime Minister, Dr. Jitendra asserted that it had never happened in the region before. The Minister said that the Hill Area Development Programme (HADP) had been introduced to accelerate the development of the North East.

He said that works for the connection of all the North East States with double gauge railway tracks are underway. Stating that the Special Road Development Programme has been introduced to enhance road connectivity, Dr. Jitendra Singh also said that efforts are being made to improve inland waterways as well. Stating that the North East States managed COVID-19 extremely well, the Minister said that the region became a role model for the entire country in COVID-19 management. Post-COVID, the Minister said, the region would become a role model for various other sectors as well.

Earlier in the morning, on their arrival at Bir Tikendrajit International Airport, Amit Shah and Dr. Jitendra Singh were received by Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, Deputy Chief Minister Y. Joykumar Singh, Manipur Legislative Assembly Speaker Y. Khemchand, Ministers, MLAs and top Government officials. Colourful cultural troupes representing different communities and clad in traditional attires presented cultural items to welcome the Home Minister. People of different communities stood in line on the roadside from BirTikendrajit Airport to Hapta Kangjeibung welcomed the visiting dignitaries by waving flags.

At Hapta Kangjeibung, Amit Shah was feted by Chief Minister N. Biren Singh by presenting a bouquet, Lengyan (traditional stole), garland, Kokyet (traditional headgear), sword and RaasLeela painting from RKCS Art Gallery. On the other hand, Deputy Chief Minister Y. Joykumar felicitated Dr. Jitendra Singh by presenting a bouquet, Lengyan and Kangla painting from RKCS Art Gallery. Women of Ima keithel also presented a gift to the Union Home Minister and Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh.