Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited Manipur on Monday (July 8) in his third visit to the northeastern state since ethnic violence erupted in May last year. He traveled from the national capital to Silchar on a flight and from there he moved to Jiribam district where fresh violence occurred on June 6.
"Rahul Gandhi will visit some relief camps in the district. He will then return to Silchar airport and from there take a flight to Imphal. After landing in Imphal, he will head to Churachandpur district where he will interact with people living in relief camps," Meghachandra earlier said.
From Churachandpur, he will go to Moirang in Bishnupur district by road and visit some relief camps. Rahul Gandhi will then return to Imphal where a meeting with Governor Anusuiya Uikey is being planned, according to Meghachandra.
Rahul Gandhi will also meet Manipur leaders.
He visited Manipur in June 2023 and also for the start of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra earlier this year.
Rahul raises Manipur issue in Parliament
Initiating the debate on behalf of the opposition in the Lower House of Parliament on the Motion of Thanks for the President's address in the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha earlier this week, Gandhi had accused the BJP-led government of pushing Manipur into a "civil war" due to its policies and politics.
He also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not visiting the state since violence broke out there.
"You have immersed Manipur into a civil war. Manipur has been burnt by you, your policies and your politics," he had said.
"For the prime minister, there is no state of Manipur. We urged the prime minister to give a message, to go there. But no. You cannot get a reply (from the prime minister)," he had said.
PM Modi’s response to Rahul’s Manipur take
Replying to a debate in Rajya Sabha on the Motion of Thanks for the President's address, the Prime Minister said that the Centre was working with the state government and others to restore normalcy in the state. He had said that more than 500 people have been arrested and over 11,000 FIRs have been registered in Manipur.
Manipur plunged into violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities in May last year. Since then, some 200 people have been killed while thousands have been displaced following large-scale arson that gutted homes and government buildings.
(With PTI inputs)
ALSO READ | Rahul writes congratulatory message to UK PM Starmer, hails Sunak's 'dedication to public service'
