‘Urge PM Modi once again to visit Manipur’: Rahul Gandhi amid fresh wave of violence

NEW DELHI: Amid fresh wave of violence in Manipur, Rahul Gandhi has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi “once again to visit Manipur and work towards restoring peace and healing in the region.”

Meanwhile, Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge accused the BJP of “deliberately” wanted Manipur “to burn, for it serves its hateful divisive politics.”

In a post on X, the leader of opposition on late Saturday expressed concern over the inaction of central and the state governments as strife-torn Manipur continues to witness bloodshed following the discovery of six bodies – Jiribam river.

“The recent string of violent clashes and continuing bloodshed in Manipur is deeply disturbing. After more than a year of division and suffering, it was the hope of every Indian that the Central and State governments would have made every effort at reconciliation and found a solution. I urge the PM once again to visit Manipur and work towards restoring peace and healing in the region,” Rahul said.

The opposition has questioned PM Modi’s move to go on foreign trips but his persistent refusal to visit the strife-torn state since the clashes began.

“What is happening in Manipur? (Union) home minister is busy campaigning (for elections), our PM is abroad and one state of ours is burning. The situation of Manipur is painful for every Indian. The PM has not even visited the state, (Union) Home Minister is not taking any action. Rahul Gandhi is talking about the real issues of this country,” Congress general secretary KC Venugopal told PTI.

‘Na Manipur ek hai, na Manipur Safe hai’

Kharge took a dig at PM Modi’s ‘ek hain toh safe hain’ rhetoric and said that “if you visit Manipur in future, people of the state will never forgive or forget that you left them to fend for themselves, and never set foot in their state to heal their miseries and find a solution.”

“We are saying it with utmost responsibility that it looks that the BJP deliberately wants Manipur to burn, for it serves its hateful divisive politics,” he said in a post on X.

“At least 17 people have lost their lives since November 7. New districts are being added to the list of strife-torn regions and the fire is spilling over to bordering NE states,” he added.

The prime minister’s first reaction on the north eastern state came earlier this year in July, one-and-a-half years after the Kuki-Meitei violence began.

“Today, schools, colleges, offices and other institutions are open in the state. The Central and the state govt are talking to all stakeholders to restore peace,” he had said, further asking the opposition to stop “politicising” the issue.

Meanwhile, the Biren government has imposed an indefinite curfew from in Imphal East, Imphal West, and Bishnupur districts, while suspending internet and mobile data services in several areas, including Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur, Thoubal, Kakching, Kangpokpi, and Churachandpur.

Courtesy : TOI

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