Rahul Gandhi Manipur visit: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who along with his convoy was en-route Churachandpur to visit strife-torn Manipur was stopped by police in Bishnupur. Amid allegations by Congress that the BJP-led government is trying to thwart the leader's visit to Manipur, the police cited security reason.
“There is a security threat. We cannot take the risk of allowing Rahul Gandhi to proceed,” a senior police official said. The Congress, however, alleged that the BJP governments at the Centre and the state are using "autocratic methods" to stall the visit of Gandhi.
The "double-engine disastrous governments are using autocratic methods to stall a compassionate outreach by Shri Rahul Gandhi. This is totally unacceptable and shatters all constitutional and democratic norms," Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge tweeted.
The party's state president Keisham Meghachandra alleged that the order to stop Gandhi's convoy came from Chief Minister N Biren Singh as "everyone was welcoming him".
Dismissing all the reports of political pressure, 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've not allowed him."
Police sources said tyres were burnt on the highway near Utlou village in Bishnupur district and a few stones were thrown at the convoy.
Earlier, he left for Manipur from Delhi airport early morning on Thursday. Violence gripped Manipur on May 3 after clashes erupted during a rally organised by the All Tribal Students Union (ATSU) to protest against the demand for the inclusion of Meiteis in the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs).
"Rahul Gandhi ji will be visiting Manipur on 29-30 June. He will visit relief camps and interact with civil society representatives in Imphal and Churachandpur during his visit. Manipur has been burning for nearly two months and desperately needs a healing touch so that society can move from conflict to peace. This is a humanitarian tragedy and it is our responsibility to be a force of love, not hate," said KC Venugopal in a tweet.
Peace restoration in Manipur:
Meanwhile, former Manipur CM and Congress leader Okram Ibobi Singh appealed to the people of Manipur to maintain peace and extend cooperation during Rahul Gandhi's two days visit to Manipur.
"We appeal to the people of Manipur, please maintain peace, calm and extend cooperation during Rahul Gandhi's two-day visit...," he says.
The Congress has been making scathing attacks against the BJP governments, both at the Centre and in the state of Manipur, over their handling of the violence. The party has already demanded the removal of Chief Minister N Biren Singh.
Notably, the Assam Rifles have evacuated over 50,000 displaced persons from all communities in violence-hit Manipur to date and provided them safe passage, shelter, food, and medicines.Earlier on June 24, Home Minister Shah gave an assurance of restoring peace in the state, while the opposition parties questioned PM Narendra Modi's 'silence' on the matter at the all-party meeting on the violence in Manipur.
A meeting was also called by Amit Shah to take stock of the situation in the violence-wracked state. BJP national president JP Nadda, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, and CPI (M) MP John Brittas, among other leaders, were present in the meeting.
(With agencies inputs)
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