Rahul Gandhi In Violence-Hit Manipur Today, To Meet Ethnic Strife Victims

Earlier, Chief Minister N Biren Singh had announced that his government will provide a one-time assistance of Rs 1000 to those living in relief camps.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi

Source : PTI

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will meet the people, who were displaced by ethnic strife in Manipur, and hold talks with civil society organisations, during his two-day visit to the northeastern state from Thursday, news agency PTI reported. This is the first visit of the Congress leader to Manipur since violence broke out on May 3.

"After reaching Imphal, Gandhi is scheduled to head to Churachandpur district where he will visit relief camps. He will then go to Moirang in Bishnupur district and interact with displaced persons," a senior Congress leader said on Wednesday. “On Friday, Gandhi will visit relief camps in Imphal and will later hold talks with certain civil society organisations," he said.

Talking about his visit, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal had earlier tweeted, “Manipur has been burning for nearly two months, and desperately needs a healing touch so that the 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.”

Earlier, CM N Biren Singh had announced that his government will provide a one-time assistance of Rs 1000 to those living in relief camps.

It is to be noted that around 50,000 people are currently put up in over 300 relief camps across the state since the ethnic strife broke out in May this year. More than 100 people have lost their lives in the ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur.

The 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.

Notably, the 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.