High Drama In Manipur As Rahul Gandhi Takes Chopper To Visit Relief Camps After Cops Stop Convoy. Top Points

The TMC backed the Congress after Rahul Gandhi's cavalcade was stopped from going to the relief camps in Manipur's Churachandpur, saying that the BJP was "desperate" ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Rahul Gandhi on the way to Churachandpur. ( Image Source :Twitter@INCIndia )

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited violence-hit Manipur on Thursday. However, Gandhi, who is on a two-day trip to Manipur, was stopped on his way to a relief camp in Churachandpur, resulting in high drama.

Here's what we know so far about his visit:

• Rahul Gandhi landed in Imphal on Thursday and started for Churachandpur to meet the victims of ethnic riots. Police stopped Rahul Gandhi in Bishnupur, citing the possibility of fresh violence along the way. 
  
  
• The police blockade prompted Congress supporters to stage a protest at the spot. The protest gradually escalated to a scuffle and police had to resort to tear gas firing to disperse them.
  
• Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi returned to Imphal. Congress slammed the Centre and the state government, alleging that the "double engine disastrous governments are using autocratic methods to stall a compassionate outreach" by the former Rahul Gandhi.
  
  
• Rahul Gandhi then took a state chopper to Churachandpur and visited the relief camps set up at a school and a college there. He spoke with the victims of the riots and even shared lunch with children at one of the camps. Around 200 people are currently taking shelter at the relief camps.
  
  
  
  
• 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, alleged 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.

(With PTI inputs.)