"I understand that a tragedy has taken place in Manipur and I have come to listen to what has happened and to try and bring back peace in Manipur," Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said at a relief camp in violent-ridden Manipur's Churachandpur on Thursday, 29 June.
Gandhi is on a two-day visit of the state, which the party called a trip to spread message of "love and brotherhood."
His convoy was earlier stopped by the Manipur Police in the state's Bishnupur district. Following that, the Congress leader took a chopper to reach Churachandpur.
"You are going through a very difficult time and my full heart and ears are with you to listen to the people of Manipur," Gandhi said at one of the relief camps he visited.
"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 took to Twitter to say earlier.
Rahul Gandhi at a relief camp in Manipur's Churachandpur.
(Photo: The Quint)
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. Several locals were also seen protesting against the police for stopping the Congress leader from going to meet those affected by the violence.
Reacting to the same, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge 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."
What else is on Rahul Gandhi's agenda?:
After ChurachandpurGandhi was to visit Moirang to interact with the affected families and Civil Society Organisations. He was, however, denied permission by the administration for the same.
"Rahul Gandhi's visit to Moirang has been cancelled. The administration did not permit him to come to Moirang - neither by road nor by air. He could meet the violence-affected people only in Churachandpur. He is returning to Imphal and will stay the night there. There is no clarity on if he will be able to continue with his visits scheduled for tomorrow," Manipur Congress president Keisham told the media.
Gandhi on Thursday was also supposed to be stop by the Greenwood Academy in Tuibong and Churachandpur Government College.
"On Friday, Gandhi is scheduled to meet affetcted people in Imphal and also visit two more relief camps.
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.
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