Our Correspondent
IMPHAL, November 30
[dropcap]U[/dropcap]nder tight security arrangement in view of the 24 hour statewide curfew by the Coordination committee of six major insurgent groups, Prime Minister Narendra Modi came down here to attend the closing function of the 10-day Manipur Sangai festival, a tourism carnival named after Sangai, the brow antlered deer found only at Keibul Lamjao, the only floating national park in Bishnupur district, at Bhagyachandra Open Air Theatre at Hafta Kangjeibung in Imphal East district today.
Prime Minister Modi in his maiden visit to the state after he become PM of the country, tries to show his wiliness to take up various infrastructure development projects in the region besides providing employment to the youths.In his 20 minute speech in hindi,Modi talks about setting up of Sports University, development of tourism sector by promoting the game of polo, better connectivity of the region with others, enrollment of North East youths in Delhi police while responding to another 20 minute opening remark by Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh who sought help from the centre in improving health, culture and sports including films, road connectivity sectors besides solving insurgency problems without disturbing territorial boundary of the state.
Stating that Manipur have enough potential for tourism, Modi said, “Let the nation and international community know about the birth place of the game of Polo.” “We should work on it”, he assured. Expressing the need for skill development, he asked, “Why not we’ve call-centres in Nagaland or Manipur besides Hyderabad or Bangalore (at low investment).”
Informing about his recent trip to Myanmar, he said he went there to study the region. He said, “We need a strong North East to connect with the South Asian countries.”
After witnessing Rongmei traditional dance followed colourful Ras Leela performance at the closing function of the festival, Prime Minister drove straight to Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) state unit officer at Keishampat for another 5 minute address in Hindi, wherein he appealed to party workers for a good membership drive in the state. In his brief speech, BJP state unit President Th Chaoba urges Modi to complete improvement of 222km Imphal-Jiribam road in his tenure. Earlier the visiting PM was received at the Imphal International airport by the Manipur Dr KK Paul, Chief Minister Ibobi led team. However Modi who left for Nagaland’s Commercial capital Dimapur in the evening,did not mention about the major issues such as controversial AFSPA etc in his Imphal public address.
