Rahul Gandhi: Manipur police stop Congress leader’s visit to unrest-hit India state

The chief of India’s opposition Congress occasion has visited reduction camps in north-eastern Manipur state to meet folks displaced by ethnic violence.

Rahul Gandhi was helicoptered to the world after his convoy was stopped by police, who cited safety considerations.

For the previous two months, Manipur has been convulsed by clashes between the bulk Meitei and Kuki communities.

More than 100 folks have been killed and 400 wounded within the violence. Tens of 1000’s have fled their houses.

Clashes broke out after the state’s essential ethnic group, the Meiteis, demanded tribal standing which supplies entry to advantages comparable to forest land and authorities job and training quotas.

Mr Gandhi is spending two days in Manipur and also will meet leaders of civil society teams.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has met high authorities officers to evaluation the state of affairs in Manipur however he has been criticised for not visiting the state or commenting on the state of affairs there.

Almost a month after violence began, Home Minister Amit Shah visited the state to put in place a plan to restore normalcy, however contemporary incidents of violence proceed to be reported nearly every day.

After arriving within the state capital Imphal on Thursday morning, Mr Gandhi shared a Facebook post saying that “restoration of peace is the top priority. Manipur needs healing, and only together we can bring harmony”.

But quickly after, senior Congress chief KC Venugopal told reporters that Mr Gandhi’s convoy had been stopped by police close to Bishnupur district whereas he was on his approach to Churachandpur city to visit reduction camps.

“Police say that they are not in a position to allow us. People are standing on both sides of the road to wave to Rahul Gandhi. We are not able to understand why have they stopped us?” Mr Venugopal mentioned.

Police mentioned the convoy had been stopped for Mr Gandhi’s safety. “Seeing the ground situation, we stopped him from moving forward and advised him to travel to Churachandpur via a helicopter,” Heisnam Balram Singh, a senior Bishnupur police official, told ANI information company.

Congress Party president Mallikarjun Kharge accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) authorities of “using autocratic methods to stall a compassionate outreach” by Mr Gandhi.

“This is totally unacceptable and shatters all Constitutional and Democratic norms. Manipur needs peace, not confrontation,” he tweeted.

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh said Mr Gandhi’s two-day visit to the state was within the spirit of his Bharat Jodo Yatra – a five-month lengthy unity march throughout the nation.

“The Prime Minister may choose to remain silent or be inactive but why stop Rahul Gandhi’s efforts to listen to all sections of the Manipuri society and provide a healing touch?” he mentioned.

Nearly 60,000 folks have been displaced due to violence in Manipur and are taking shelter in some 350 camps.

Congress leaders have criticised Mr Singh for not having the ability to “restore peace and normalcy” within the state and have requested for federal rule to be imposed.

Mr Venugopal tweeted about Mr Gandhi’s visit on Tuesday, and mentioned that the state had been “burning for nearly two months” and “desperately needs a healing touch so that society can move from conflict to peace”.

Since the clashes started early in May, many houses, church buildings and temples have been destroyed by mobs whereas the houses of some state ministers and legislators have been attacked and set on fireplace.

Close to 40,000 safety forces have been deployed to quell the violence.

But the state of affairs continues to stay tense. Normal life has been thrown utterly out of substances for the locals who’re going through curfews, web shutdowns and sporadic killings and arson.

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