Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday hit out at the Manipur government for using 'autocratic methods' to stop Rahul Gandhi from providing a healing touch in the violence-hit state.
Read here: Rahul Gandhi likely to take chopper after convoy stopped by cops in Manipur
His comments came after Rahul Gandhi was stopped by Manipur Police near Bishnupur– fearing violence on the way to Churachandpur. After arriving in Imphal on Thursday, Gandhi was scheduled to meet the violence-hit people at the camps.
"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," Kharge tweeted.
Attacking PM Modi, Kharge added, "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 Shri Rahul Gandhi. This is totally unacceptable and shatters all Constitutional and Democratic norms."
{{/usCountry}}Attacking PM Modi, Kharge added, "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 Shri Rahul Gandhi. This is totally unacceptable and shatters all Constitutional and Democratic norms."
{{/usCountry}}"Manipur needs peace, NOT confrontation," he further said.
The Congress leader will now take a chopper from Imphal to Churachandpur. Gandhi is on a two-day visit to the conflict-ridden state, which the party called a trip to spread message of "love and brotherhood."
Read here: ‘Rahul and responsibility don’t travel together': BJP after Cong leader's convoy stopped in Manipur
Several party leaders reacted to the incident. Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said cops were not allowing Rahul Gandhi's car to proceed while people standing on the sides were waving to him, while, the party spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said Gandhi was simply carrying the message of peace and love but the BJP was scared.
Ahead of Gandhi's visit, the All Manipur Students Union' condemned the successive governments in the state. "The present communal crisis in Manipur is a result of the political blunders that have been committed by the successive governments that have ruled Manipur over time and Congress has a big role to play," the union said.
The situation in Manipur is tense as the clashes between the Kuki and Meitei tribes escalated to large-scale violence nearly two months ago. So far, the violence has claimed around 100 lives and displaced at least 35,000 people.