‘Unacceptable, Shatters All Constitutional, Democratic Norms’: Kharge After Rahul’s Convoy Stopped In Manipur

Congress president Kharge lashed out at the BJP governments at the Centre and state after Rahul Gandhi’s convoy was stopped by the police near Manipur's Bishnupur while he was on his way to Churachandpur.

After Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s convoy was on Thursday stopped by the police near Bishnupur in Manipur, party president Mallikarjun Kharge lashed out at the BJP governments at the Centre and state claiming that the "double engine disastrous governments are using autocratic methods to stall a compassionate outreach" by the former Lok Sabha MP. The Congress leader is returning to Imphal from Bishnupur, which is about 20 kilometres from the state capital.

  

"Shri @RahulGandhi’s convoy in Manipur has been stopped by the police near Bishnupur. He is going there to meet the people suffering in relief camps and to provide a healing touch in the strife-torn state. PM Modi has not bothered to break his silence on Manipur. He has left the state to fend for itself," Kharge wrote.

"Now, his 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. Manipur needs peace, NOT confrontation," the Congress national president remarked.

After arriving at Imphal, Rahul Gandhi was travelling in a convoy to Churachandpur to visit relief camps in the area. 

According to news agency PTI, police officials said the convoy was stopped fearing violence along the route. They said that tyres were burnt on the highway near Utlou village in Bishnupur district and a few stones were thrown at the convoy.  

"We fear repetition of such events and hence as a precaution, requested the convoy to halt at Bishnupur," PTI reported a police officer as saying.

It was said that Congress office bearers spoke with the police and army authorities to ensure safe passage for their party leader.  

According to sources, Rahul Gandhi will reach the airport in Imphal from Bishnupur and he will go to the pre-fixed program by helicopter. He arrived in the state capital earlier today for a two-day visit to meet people displaced by the ethnic strife in relief camps and hold talks with civil society organisations.

Earlier in the day, Congress leader Kh Debabrata informed that "Rahul Gandhi will be visiting Churachandpur to meet people staying in the relief camps and stay with the affected families." Rahul will also have lunch with the affected people, he added.

Later in the afternoon, Rahul was scheduled to visit Moirang to interact with the affected families, Civil Society Organisations, women's groups, and other stakeholders.

On the second day, Rahul plans to meet important people in Imphal and also visit two more relief camps to interact with the people, the Working President MPCC said.

Debabrata said that "ordinary people are tired" and want to return to normalcy as they are fed up with the situation.

Around 50,000 people are currently staying in over 300 relief camps across the state since ethnic strife started in May this year, PTI reported. Meanwhile, more than 100 people have lost their lives in the ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki communities in the northeastern state so far.

Clashes first broke out on May 3 after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals -- Nagas and Kukis -- constitute another 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hill districts. 

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