Manipur: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to visit violence-affected people in Moirang
2 min read 30 Jun 2023, 09:38 AM ISTCongress leader Rahul Gandhi visits violence-hit Manipur, meets with affected people in Moirang and plans to meet like-minded party leaders.
PremiumCongress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is on a two-day visit to violence-hit Manipur, will meet the affected people in Moirang today, Friday, June 30. He will also visit the relief camps and then return to Imphal to meet 10 like-minded party leaders.
“He (Rahul Gandhi) will visit the relief camps and meet the affected people there. Later, he will return to Imphal and meet 10 like-minded party leaders, United Naga Council (UNC) leaders and civil society organization members," said Congress' State President Keisham Meghachandra.
Gandhi had arrived in Imphal earlier on Thursday for a two-day visit that included meeting people affected by ethnic violence. His convoy was halted by the police near Bishnupur leading to a multi-hour delay.
He had eventually returned to the capital city before reaching Churachandpur in a helicopter. Gandhi went to a relief camp and interacted with the inmates.
“I came to listen to all my brothers and sisters of Manipur. People of all communities are being very welcoming and loving. It’s very unfortunate that the government is stopping me. Manipur needs healing. Peace has to be our only priority," he tweeted.
The remarks also came mere hours after his convoy on its way to Churachandpur to visit relief camps. The police had dubbed it a precautionary measure to prevent the recurrence of violence.
Party leaders have accused Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh of ordering officials to stop the convoy. The BJP meanwhile contends that Gandhi had been asked to take a chopper but "stubbornly" decided to travel by the road route.
The local police had used tear gas to disperse the demonstrators - some of whom wanted him to proceed to Churanchandpur, while others opposed his visit. Gandhi’s supporters, including a large number of women, hit the streets at Bishnupur demanding that he be allowed to go to Churachandpur.
At least 100 people have been killed in ethnic clashes in Manipur since the beginning of May this year, thousands of homes have been burned and shops and businesses vandalized. Authorities have moved nearly 40,000 people to safer places.
