Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, June 29: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was on Thursday forced to travel by helicopter to reach Churachandpur, one of the worst-hit districts in the Manipur ethnic violence, and meet the riot-hit people in the relief camps after his convoy was stopped by the police.
Police said Rahul Gandhi’s convoy was stopped at Bishnupur, 20 kilometres from Imphal, over “security concerns.” The Congress leader then headed back to Imphal and took a helicopter instead of travelling to Churachandpur by road.
The Congress hit out at the government after Rahul Gandhi’s convoy was stopped by police near Bishnupur and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of using “autocratic methods” to stall his “compassionate outreach” to those hit by ethnic violence. The government action is “totally unacceptable and shatters all constitutional and democratic norms,” Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said.
Officials claimed the move was taken as there was a “huge mob” of women protesters on the route that Rahul Gandhi was travelling on. “We fear repetition of such events and hence as a precaution, requested the convoy to halt at Bishnupur,” a police officer said.
Bishnupur SP Heisnam Balram Singh, while explaining about why Rahul Gandhi’s convoy was stopped, said: “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 Rahul Gandhi is moving. Keeping his security and safety in mind, we’ve not allowed him.”
The Congress, however, slammed the BJP governments in the state and the centre for not allowing Rahul Gandhi’s convoy to take the road journey and claimed that the women were actually wanting the Congress leader to visit their village and were protesting against the cops for stopping Gandhi and didn’t want him to turn back. They said the women wanted him to visit Churachandpur as well as their village.
The BJP immediately launched a scathing attack on Rahul Gandhi accusing him of “irresponsible” behaviour in demanding to travel by road when the state was witnessing unrest. The BJP asked the Congress to look at the sensitive situation in the state and behave accordingly. The BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra said: “Looking into the sensitive situation to understand is more important than being “stubborn” for petty political gains.”
Patra also claimed that the police in the morning itself had requested Gandhi to travel by chopper and not to take the journey by road, but “irresponsible” Congress leader refused to pay any heed and caused disturbances to resume in the state which had not witnessed any violence since June 13 and the situation was coming back to normal. “Thousands of women protesters, however, forced the irresponsible Congress leader to turn back,” Patra claimed in Delhi.
Media reports quoting one of the protesting women said, “He visited Manipur to know what the people of the state are going through. He didn’t come here to do politics. Why are they blocking his road?”
In a tweet, Kharge said, “Gandhi’s convoy in Manipur has been stopped by 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. 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. This is totally unacceptable and shatters all constitutional and democratic norms. Manipur needs peace not confrontation,” he added.
Criticising the government for forcing him to return mid-way, Rahul Gandhi said, “I came to listen to all my brothers and sisters of 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.”
The Congress general secretary, organisation, K.C. Venugopal, who accompanied Mr. Gandhi, said, “After initially allowing us, our convoy led by Rahul Gandhi was stalled near Bishnupur on the orders of the Manipur CM.” “Such moves are unfortunate and have no place in a democracy. At a time when the victims of Manipur are suffering, Rahul ji is in Manipur to deliver a message of peace and harmony.
“Manipur today needs a healing touch, not further acrimony. It is our constitutional right to travel across Manipur, interact with the people who have suffered so much, and build bridges between communities,” Venugopal said on Twitter.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also said that it was the duty of every patriot to make efforts for peace and brotherhood in the country. “Rahul Gandhi ji has gone to share the pain of people of Manipur and spread the message of peace. The BJP government should also do the same. Why does the government want to stop Rahul Gandhi ji?” she asked.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said it is “most unfortunate” that the Modi government is preventing the Gandhi scion from visiting the relief camps and interacting with people outside Imphal. “His 2-day visit to Manipur is in the spirit of the Bharat Jodo Yatra. 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 asked.
The TMC on Thursday hit out at the Centre after Rahul Gandhi’s convoy was stopped by police alleging that it shows the BJP’s “desperation.” “Modi-Shah’s BJP is desperate now. A month ago, Mamata Banerjee wrote a letter seeking permission to enter Manipur. She was not allowed. Exactly a month later, Rahul Gandhi was also denied entry. This is definitely the last 300 days of BJP government,” TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien said.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on July 3 a plea by an NGO seeking Army protection for the minority Kuki tribals in Manipur and prosecution of communal groups attacking them. A bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narasimha and Manoj Misra will be hearing the petition filed by NGO ‘Manipur Tribal Forum’. On June 20, a vacation bench headed by Justice Surya Kant had declined urgent hearing on the plea, saying it’s a law and order issue which the administration should tackle.
Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, appearing for the NGO had submitted notwithstanding the solemn assurances that nobody will die, 70 tribals have been killed in ethnic violence in the state. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the State had opposed the prayer for urgent hearing, and asserted security agencies are on the ground doing their best to stem violence and restore normalcy.
He had submitted that the main matter pertaining to the Manipur High Court’s order for grant of Scheduled Tribe status to the majority Meitei community, which set off a chain of violence in the north-eastern state, has been posted for hearing on July 17 by the top court. The vacation bench had then posted the plea of the NGO for hearing on July 3.
Around 50,000 people are now staying in over 300 relief camps across the state while nearly 120 people have died and more than 3,000 injured in the ethnic violence in Manipur since May 3. Clashes broke out in Manipur after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts on May 3 to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
Clashes first broke out on May 3 after a Tribal Solidarity March was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. The violence in Manipur was preceded by tension over the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land, which had led to a series of smaller agitations. Over 100 people have died in clashes between the Meiteis, who live in and around the state capital Imphal Valley, and the Kuki tribe, who are settled in the hills.