Chaos erupts as Rahul visits violence-hit Manipur
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Manipur was marked by high drama on Thursday after his convoy was initially blocked from travelling to violence-hit Churachandpur district over security concerns.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Manipur was marked by high drama on Thursday after his convoy was initially blocked from travelling to violence-hit Churachandpur district over security concerns, prompting the former parliamentarian to eventually take a government-owned helicopter to the region that has seen several deadly clashes since ethnic riots erupted eight weeks ago.
His visit to the state, the first by a senior Opposition leader since the violence fulminated on May 3, also set off a pitched political battle between the Congress and the BJP, which governs the state, as the former accused the latter of using “autocratic methods” to stall Gandhi. The BJP, in turn, said Gandhi was trying to stoke violence in the tense state.
Gandhi arrived at Imphal airport at noon on Thursday amid tight security and set off by car to Churachandpur, 60km away. The police, however, stopped his convoy later in Bishnupur town and asked him to return, citing law and order concerns.
“I came to listen to all my brothers and sisters in Manipur. People of all communities are being very welcoming and loving. It’s very unfortunate that the government is stopping me. Manipur needs healing. Peace has to be our only priority,” Gandhi tweeted from Bishnupur, amid negotiations with the police that lasted for hours. Meanwhile, local residents gathered in the area, demanding Gandhi be allowed to pass, with police firing teargas shells to disperse the crowd.
Gandhi turned back later and returned to the airport in Imphal, the state capital, from where a helicopter arranged by the state administration flew him into Churachandpur. “The law-and-order situation on the ground isn’t very good and there were chances that miscreants would set off grenades along the highway. So, he was advised to take a helicopter to go to Churachandpur,” Bishnupur superintendent of police Heisnam Balram Singh told ANI.
As he reached Churachandpur, Gandhi interacted with people displaced by the violence, first at the Greenwood relief camp in Tuibuong, then at the government college in Hiangtam. He also interacted with representatives of civil society organisations in Hiangtam. During his interaction at YPA Hall at Hiangtam, Gandhi said, “I have come to listen to and understand what is happening and to try and bring back peace.” At least 115 people have died in the violence between the tribal Kuki groups and the majority Meitei community so far.
Gandhi’s visit kicked off a row between the Congress and BJP.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge condemned the attempt to stop Gandhi and tweeted, “PM Modi has not bothered to break his silence on Manipur. He has left the state to fend for itself. Now, his double engine disastrous governments are using autocratic methods to stall a compassionate outreach by Rahul Gandhi.”
The ruling BJP, however, called the allegations baseless and said that the Congress had been informed in advance that the law and order situation was not conducive for him to travel to Churachandpur by road.
“But despite those warnings, he chose to go... As some people in Bishnupur were protesting Gandhi’s visit, the police stopped his convoy. He had to turn back and return to Imphal,” said Sambit Patra, senior BJP leader and party in-charge for Manipur.