Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured the people of Manipur that the Centre will look into the demands by the State’s Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, including the setting up of the sports university in Imphal. In his 25-minute speech in Imphal during the concluding ceremony of the Sangai Manipur Tourism Festival on Sunday Mr. Modi said he was happy that the Congress government in the State reposed faith in his government and said that he will not fail Mr. Singh.
The Centre is paying special attention to overall development of the northeastern States and budgetary provision for the region is over Rs. 60,000 crore, he said. Road connectivity will be developed in view of Manipur’s huge tourism potential, he added. Recalling his recent visit to Myanmar, Mr. Modi said a proposal to construction a road from Mandalay to Imphal was seriously discussed.
He said Rs. 100 crore has been sanctioned as first installment for the soon-to-be set up national sports university in the State. Australia has been invited to join the venture, he added. He said that the university is being set up in recognition of the sportspersons from Manipur, who have been winning laurels from home and abroad.
While praising the sportspersons from the region, Mr. Modi also expressed his anguish over drug abuse among Manipuri youth. The Manipuri youth, who have given the country so much in sports, should give up the deadly habit which destroys themselves, their families and society, he said.
Keeping in mind the large English-speaking youth base from the northeastern States, Information Technology companies have been asked to open offices in the region, the Prime Minister said. There is also a proposal to absorb youth from the region in the Delhi Police, he added.
Though Mr. Modi responded to all the major demands made by Mr. Singh during his welcome address, he was silent over the Naga issue.
In his welcome address Mr. Singh said Manipur will not sacrifice even a single inch of its territory. “Manipur
wants to live in peace and harmony with other neighbours… But nobody should covet Manipur's land,” the Manipur Chief Minister said.
The National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak Muivah) (NSCN-IM) and other Naga groups have been demanding the unification of “Naga populated areas” of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur with Nagaland.
Modi creates history
Mr. Modi created a history of sorts by becoming the first Prime Minister to visit a party office in Manipur.
Soon after the main function of the closing of the Sangai festival he went to the party office where he met State party president Chaoba Thounaojam and senior functionaries.
Mr. Thounaojam urged the Prime Minister to spend the first instalment of Rs. 100 crore for the sports university within March next year.
