Rahul Gandhi’s travel plan includes visits to relief camps, among other interactions.
Updated:
Rahul Gandhi Reaches Violence-Hit Manipur
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Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has returned to Imphal after his convoy was stopped by Manipur Police at Bishnupur – fearing violence on the way to Churachandpur, on Thursday, 29 June.
Reacting to the same, Congress president said, “He (Gandhi) is going there to meet the people suffering in relief camps and to provide a healing touch in the strife-torn state. PM Modi has not bothered to break his silence on Manipur. He has left the state to fend for itself. Now, his double engine disastrous governments are using autocratic methods to stall a compassionate outreach by Rahul Gandhi.”
Gandhi is on a two-day visit to the conflict-ridden state, which the party called a trip to spread message of “love and brotherhood.”
On the first day, Gandhi will be stopping by Greenwood Academy in Tuibong and Churachandpur Government College. He will also be attending a programme that has been organised at Konjengbam and Moirang College, according to a report by The Indian Express.
“Rahul Gandhi will be visiting Churachandpur to meet people staying in the relief camps and stay with the affected families. Later he will visit Moirang and will interact with the affected families and Civil Society Organisations. Tomorrow, he will meet important people in Imphal and also visit two more relief camps,” MPCC working president Kh Debabrata was quoted as saying by ANI.
Why is it important? Gandhi is the first leader from the Opposition to pay a visit to Manipur since clashes between the Kuki and Meitei tribes escalated to large-scale violence more than 50 days ago.
“He (Rahul Gandhi) is the keeper of the country, who is going (to Manipur) to bring peace. Despite him not holding any constitutional post, he is going there to tell that the entire country is standing with Manipur,” Congress spokesperson Surendra Rajput told news agency PTI.
Background: So far, the violence in the state has claimed almost 100 lives and displaced at least 35,000 people.
In the wake of the situation in Manipur, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had organised an all-party meeting in New Delhi on Saturday, 24 June. In a post-meeting media interaction, the ruling party highlighted its efforts to deescalate tensions in the state. However, the Congress party claimed that it had not been given enough time to convey its points at the gathering.
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