Rahul Gandhi’s convoy was earlier stopped enroute to Churachandpur by Manipur police citing safety concerns.
Updated:
Rahul Gandhi Visits Relief Camp in Violence-Hit Manipur’s Churachandpur
|
Hours after his convoy was stopped by the Manipur police on Thursday, 29 June, in the state’s Bishnupur district, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi reached Churachandpur via a chopper and visited a relief camp, officials said.
Gandhi’s convoy was earlier stopped by the Manipur police which advised him to take a chopper to Churachandpur instead of going by road.
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.”
Rahul Gandhi at a relief camp in Manipur’s Churachandpur. Rahul Gandhi at a relief camp in Manipur’s Churachandpur. Rahul Gandhi at a relief camp in Manipur’s Churachandpur. Rahul Gandhi’s convoy was earlier stopped by Manipur police citing safety concerns. Rahul Gandhi’s convoy was earlier stopped by Manipur police citing safety concerns. Rahul Gandhi’s convoy was earlier stopped by Manipur police citing safety concerns. Rahul Gandhi is slated to visit relief camps and meet citizens’ groups in Manipur.
Why was Rahul Gandhi’s convoy stopped?:
Speaking to news agency ANI, Bishnupur SP Heisnam Balram Singh said: “Seeing the ground situation, we stopped him (Rahul Gandhi) from moving forward and advised him to travel to Churachandpur via helicopter. There is a possibility of a grenade attack along the highway through which VIP Rahul Gandhi is moving. Keeping his security and safety in mind, we didn’t allow him.”
The Congress party, however, called it an attempt to stop Gandhi from meeting bereaved families.
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 on Thursday is also supposed to be stopping by Greenwood Academy in Tuibong and Churachandpur Government College. He will also reportedly attend a programme that has been organised at Konjengbam and Moirang College.
What else is on Rahul Gandhi’s agenda?:
“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 the visit 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.
Meanwhile, the Indian Army said that armed rioters opened fire in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district, adding that additional troops have been dispatched to quell the situation, NDTV reported.
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.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)
