RaGa stopped from proceeding to CCpur by road
Source: The Sangai Express

Moirang, June 29 2023: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who landed in Imphal today on a two day visit to meet the people displaced by the ongoing violence was stopped by police in front of Bishnupur police station while heading towards Churachandpur and Moirang at around 12 noon.

Following the incident, a group of women arrived at the area and demanded that the former president of AICC be allowed to resume his journey but the police fired rounds of tear gas shells to disperse them.

Reportedly, the police built barricades and parked police vehicles in advance in front of Bishnupur police station to stop the movement of the Rahul Gandhi's convoy.

After being stopped, MPCC president K Meghachandra, CLP leader Okram Ibobi stepped off from their vehicles and had a heated argument with Bishnupur DC, SP and other officials but the convoy was not allowed to advance further for security reason as the adjacent area between Bishnupur and Churachandpur has been identified as a buffer zone.

RaGa stopped from proceeding to CCpur by road

Amid the tight security measures, a large number of people of Bishnupur stormed the area and demanded that the convoy of Rahul Gandhi be allowed to move ahead.

As the situation became restive, the police fired rounds of tear gas shells while Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders were at the area to disperse the mob.

It is reported that one security personnel who was part of the convoy got injured as he was hit by a tear gas shell and it led to a stand off between the escort of the convoy and the police personnel deployed in the area.

Later, Rahul Gandhi returned towards Imphal amid resistance by the womenfolk and took a helicopter to reach Churachandpur.

Rahul Gandhi was accompanied by AICC general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal, Congress Working Committee member Gaikhangam and MPCC working president Victor Keishing in his visit to Churachandpur.

After meeting the displaced folks at Churachandpur, Rahul Gandhi returned to Imphal and went to the relief camp set up at Ideal Girls' College, Akampat.

Reportedly, the womenfolk supported Rahul Gandhi in his endeavour to reach Churachandpur and Moirang by road and prevented the convoy of Congress leader from turning back for a brief time.

The convoy headed back to Imphal after the MPCC president and Congress MLAs convinced the womenfolk.

Speaking to the media, K Meghachandra said that Rahul Gandhi came to Manipur with a message of peace at this crucial juncture so that there would be no more bloodshed and arson.

Saying that the visit of Rahul Gandhi was supported by the people of Manipur especially womenfolk, the MPCC president said that they however were stopped by police near Bishnupur police station.

Claiming that they were detained without any official order, the MPCC president said that he also heard the Bishnupur SP talking with the Chief Minister on the phone to stop the Congress team.

Why is the Manipur Government causing disturbance to the movement of the National leader when the people support it, he asked.

K Meghachandra went on to state that the Chief Minister deliberately stopping the peace initiative of Rahul Gandhi is uncalled for and unacceptable.

Meanwhile, a large number of people from Moirang and Bishnupur burnt the effigies of the Prime Minister, Union Home Minister and Chief Minister near Bishnupur police station for stopping the convoy of Rahul Gandhi after the Congress team left.

Speaking to media persons, a woman who took part in the agitation claimed that the BJP is still trying to take political mileage out of the situation and depicting the arrival of Rahul Gandhi as a political manoeuvre is totally unacceptable.

Rahul Gandhi only visited Manipur to reach out to the people at relief camps as the BJP is unable to find a solution till today, she added.

"We don't see the visit of Rahul Gandhi from a narrow political vision as Manipur has been burning for over 50 days with no end at sight and as such we support all conciliatory approaches," she said.

She also claimed that the scene in front of Bishnupur police station has proven that there is no respite from violence in Manipur as the Manipur Government sees the situation in the State from a political point of view.

It would be wrong to portray the action of womenfolk as a political exercise, she added.

The Nachou Youth Defence Committee also staged a sit-in protest at Nachou Khunou Community Hall along with the meira paibis against stopping the convoy of Rahul Gandhi.

Meanwhile, a group of people who opposed the visit of Rahul Gandhi stood in line near Utlou and displayed placards which read "We want peace not politics", "Go Back Rahul Gandhi don't play politics", "No separate administration" etc.