Manipur Violence: It's day two of Rahul Gandhi's Manipur visit and the Congress leader travelled to Moirang on Friday for a visit to relief camps in the town. He met a number of affected people and listened to their plight there. The former Congress president also met the Coordination Committee on Manipur Integrity (CoCoMI), a civil society organization, representatives of the United Naga Council, the apex body of the Naga community in Manipur, the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee, and prominent personalities including JNU professor Bimol A. Earlier on Thursday, he had visited relief camps in Churachandpur, which was adversely affected due to the ethnic rioting in the state.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi after meeting Manipur Governor, said "Manipur needs peace. I want peace to be restored here. I visited some relief camps, there are deficiencies in these relief camps, the government should work for this."
According to Congress' State President Keisham Meghachandra, 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 organisation members.
Rahul Gandhi's convoy was stopped
Earlier, Gandhi who along with his convoy was en-route Churachandpur to visit strife-torn Manipur was stopped by police in Bishnupur on Thursday. Amid allegations by Congress that the BJP-led government is trying to thwart the leader's visit to Manipur, the police cited security reasons.
Gandhi's convoy which was travelling to Churachandpur to visit relief camps in the area, was stopped by the police at Bishnupur, about 20 kilometres from the state capital. He had earlier in the day landed at Imphal from Delhi. Police officials said the convoy was stopped fearing violence along the route.
Himanta Biswa Sarma on Rahul Gandhi’s Manipur visit
Reacting to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's visit to violence-hit Manipur, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Thursday (June 29) that politicians should not try to take advantage when a state is going through a disturbed situation. Speaking to media, Sarma said, “Both the Central and state governments have been taking the necessary steps for restoring peace in Manipur.”
According to Sarma, there is no need for any other political persons to go to Manipur because only the state government and the Centre can restore peace in the state.
“Others will go and return within a day or two. No solution will come from their visits. It will only serve the purpose of grabbing media attention,” he said.
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