'Law & Order Very Critical': Manipur CM On Nod To Rahul-Led 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra', Gehlot Responds

He mentioned that granting permission for Rahul Gandhi's rally is under active consideration, with the government assessing reports from various security agencies.

File photo of Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh

New Delhi: Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Tuesday addressed the Congress's 'Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra,' stating that the current law and order situation in the state is highly critical. 

He mentioned that granting permission for Rahul Gandhi's rally is under active consideration, with the government assessing reports from various security agencies.

"The prevailing law & order situation in the state is very critical. Giving permission to Rahul Gandhi's rally is under active consideration, we are taking reports from various security agencies. After receiving the reports, we will take a concrete decision," he told ANI.

#WATCH | On Congress' 'Bharat Nyay Yatra', Manipur CM N Biren Singh says, "The prevailing law & order situation in the state is very critical. Giving permission to Rahul Gandhi's rally is under active consideration, we are taking reports from various security agencies. After… pic.twitter.com/HnUvWgL6Zw

— ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2024

The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will be launched from Imphal on January 14 and culminate on March 20 in Mumbai.

The 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' foot march, covering over 6,713 km, will traverse through 110 districts, approximately 100 Lok Sabha seats, and 337 assembly segments. The journey will conclude in Mumbai, Maharashtra, after traversing through various states, including Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Maharashtra.

Responding to Manipur CM's statement on 'Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra,' former Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot said that permission should have been granted by now. He stated that Rahul Gandhi's rally is not a political event but a means to foster love and brotherhood in the country.

"Permission should have been given by now...Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra is not political but to ensure love and brotherhood in the country and to take forward the issues raised by Rahul Gandhi in Bharat Jodo Yatra...This yatra will give a message to the people...Permission should be given for this yatra," Gehlot said.

#WATCH | On Manipur CM N Biren Singh's statement on Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra, Former Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot says, "...Permission should have been given by now...Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra is not political but to ensure love and brotherhood in the country and to take… pic.twitter.com/Q6HKF7WJsO

— ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2024

On Monday, the AICC in-charge of Manipur, Girish Chodankar told reporters that the party leaders have met the state chief secretary Vineet Joshi and were assured that they will be informed about the granting of the permission on Monday evening itself.

"We applied to the Manipur government on January 2 itself for the ground permission for the launching of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra at Hapta Kangjeibung in Imphal East district on January 14, but it has not yet been approved so far. The AICC team met the chief secretary today to seek the ground permission for this rally at the earliest. We have apprised him that the rally will be peaceful," Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Keisham Meghachandra had said.

Manipur is in the grip of continued ethnic violence since May and over 180 people have been killed in it so far. Several hundreds have been injured.