Our Correspondent
Kohima, Oct. 19 (EMN): President of India Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are expected to visit Nagaland in the next few weeks, according to sources.
A reliable source told Eastern Mirror that Murmu may visit Nagaland in the first week of November, during her tour of the Northeast. It will be her maiden visit to the state after she became the president of the country.
It was also informed that Modi may visit the state on October 28 during his tour of the Northeast and a civic reception will be held at Indira Gandhi Stadium (IGS) in Kohima where he will address a public rally
However, sources from the state’s Home department informed this newspaper on Wednesday that the ‘confirmation on Modi’s visit may perhaps come in a day or two’.
The prime minister last visited Nagaland in February 2018 to address an election rally at Tuensang ahead of the state assembly election.
Modi is scheduled to inaugurate dwelling units built under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), lay foundation stones of some projects and hold public rally in Tripura later this month, either on October 27 or the 28th. He is also scheduled to visit Arunachal Pradesh and is likely to inaugurate the Donyi Polo airport.
As for Nagaland, a visit by the President and PM will hold significance as it will happen amid public demand to expedite the Naga peace talks and seal the final solution; the upcoming state assembly elections due next year; and the growing clamour from the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) for a Frontier Nagaland state.
The ENPO had announced that it will not participate in the electoral process of any Central or state polls till their demand for a separate state is fulfilled.