Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, whose convoy was stopped by police near Bishnupur fearing "violence", has returned to Imphal. Rahul took a chopper for his visit as was requested by the administration earlier. He visited people displaced by the ethnic strife at Churachandpur in Manipur after reaching there in the chopper, hours behind schedule as his convoy of vehicles was stopped by the state police mid-way fearing violence. Gandhi went to a relief camp and interacted with the inmates.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is on a two-day visit to Manipur, had reached Imphal on Thursday afternoon. The Congress leaders' convoy enroute to Churachandpur district was stopped at Bishnupur by police as a precautionary measure considering the possibility of any "untoward" incident.
The video of Rahul stopped by authorities has also surfaced and was shared on social media.
"Rahul Gandhi's convoy has been stopped by police near Bishnupur. 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?" Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal said, questioning the authorities stopping him from visiting Churachandpur district, which has been badly affected due to the violence that broke out after May 3.
The police also gave their version and explained why Rahul's convoy was stopped. "Seeing the ground situation, we stopped him (Rahul Gandhi) from moving forward and advised him to travel to Churachandpur via helicopter. There is a possibility of a grenade attack along the highway through which VIP Rahul Gandhi is moving. Keeping his security and safety in mind, we've not allowed him," Bishnupur SP Heisnam Balram Singh said.
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra hit out at Congress questioning the stopping of Rahul Gandhi's convoy. "Rahul Gandhi’s Manipur visit was vehemently opposed by many Civil Society Organisations & Student Unions in Manipur. Keeping this in mind the administration requested Rahul Gandhi to take helicopter to Churachandpur, rather than the road route, since various groups were protesting against his visit. Rahul was stubborn to take the road route," tweeted Sambit Patra.
Congress also tweeted about Rahul's convoy allegedly stopped from moving ahead.
Rahul Gandhi had left for Manipur early morning on Thursday and reached Imphal around noon.
BJP Attacks Rahul
The BJP trained its gun on Rahul's Manipur visit even before the Congress leader had reached the violence hit state. "Not once did Rahul Gandhi visit Churachandpur in Manipur between 2015-17, to meet the victims of ethnic violence, that raged following Congress CM Okram Ibobi Singh Govt’s decision to pass three Bills – the Protection of Manipur People’s Bill, 2015, Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2015, and Manipur Shops and Establishments (Second Amendment) Bill, 2015..." wrote Malviya.
Rahul on talk to displaced people on his two-day visit
Rahul Gandhi on his two-day visit to the violence hit state will meet people displaced by the ethnic strife in relief camps and hold talks with civil society organisations during his two-day visit to the state from Thursday, a party source was quoted by news agency PTI.
Manipur hit by violence
The state of Manipur has seen widespread violence since May 3 after a rally in the state turned violent. The members of Meitei and Kuku community clashed with each other in ethnic clashes that has engulfed the entire state. Houses of at least two BJP leaders were set on fire and over 131 people have been killed and thousands displaced following the ethnic violence. Home Minister Amit Shah was on a four-day visit to the state and in a press conference had appealed for peace and stated out the measures taken by Union government to bring back the state to normalcy. However, the situation didn't improve much and the Union Home Minister called for an all party meeting last week to find a solution to the problem.
