Rahul Gandhi, who is meeting victims of ethnic strife in Manipur, has reached Raj Bhaban to meet Goveror Anusuiya Uikey on the second day of his two-day visit to the state. He will also hold a press conference after meeting the governor. Rahul Gandhi's visit to the state saw high drama with his convoy being stopped by the police on his way to meet vicitim at a relief camp, following which reached the camp on a helicopter. Congress said the situation was 'unfortunate' in the state and that the government should take note of the deficiencies in the relief camp.
On Friday, Rahul Gandhi on Friday visited two relief camps at Moirang in Manipur’s Bishnupur district, party officials said. Gandhi, who reached Moirang by a chopper from Imphal around 9.30 am, met a number of affected people and listened to their plight. Party sources said both the camps that Gandhi visited shelter around 1,000 people.
Gandhi was accompanied by former Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh, party general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal, PCC president Keisham Meghachandra Singh and former MP Ajay Kumar.
The BJP blamed Gandhi for the incident. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said: "Looking into the sensitive situation to 'understand' is more important than being 'stubborn' for petty political gains."
The TMC lashed out at the Centre over the incident. The party said that it only laid bare the BJP's "desperation". “Modi-Shah's BJP is desperate now. A month ago, Mamata Banerjee wrote a letter seeking permission to enter Manipur. She was not allowed. Exactly a month later, Rahul Gandhi was also denied entry. This is definitely the last 300 days of BJP government,” TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien was quoted as saying by PTI.
Ahead of Rahul Gandhi's visit, suspected rioters opened fire in Haraothel village in the Kangpokpi district of Manipur. Indian Army troops were quickly mobilised to diffuse the situation. One person was reported to have been killed in the incident.