Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, is set to visit Manipur on July 8, marking his third trip to the northeastern state since violence first broke out in May of the previous year. The announcement was made by Manipur Congress chief K Meghachandra during a press conference in Imphal.
All you need to know about Rahul Gandhi's visit to Manipur
Meghachandra detailed Gandhi's itinerary, stating that the trip will begin with a flight from Delhi to Silchar, followed by a journey to Jiribam district, which recently witnessed fresh violence on June 6. "In Jiribam, Gandhi will visit some relief camps before returning to Silchar airport and flying to Imphal," the Manipur Congress chief mentioned. Further, upon arrival in Imphal, Gandhi will head to Churachandpur district to interact with residents in relief camps. He will then travel by road to Moirang in Bishnupur district to visit additional relief camps, before returning to Imphal for a planned meeting with Governor Anusuiya Uikey. According to sources, Gandhi will also meet with Manipur leaders during his visit.
Opposition slams BJP over situation in Manipur
Meanwhile, it is pertinent to note that Gandhi's visit to the state comes amid his recent criticism of the BJP over the situation in Manipur. During a recent debate on the Motion of Thanks for the President's address in the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha, Gandhi accused the BJP-led government of pushing Manipur into a "civil war" due to its policies and politics.
He criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not visiting the state since the ethnic violence began, alleging that the government is behaving as if nothing has happened in Manipur. "You have immersed Manipur into a civil war. Manipur has been burnt by you, your policies, and your politics," Gandhi said. He further asserted that it seems as if Manipur is not an Indian state, and criticized the Prime Minister for not addressing the crisis. "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," Gandhi remarked.
(With inputs from PTI)
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