Cong mulls other venues
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 10 2024: Hours before Congress was given the permit to use Hapta Kangjeibung as the venue for the launch of Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra with some restrictions on the number of participants, Congress said it was denied the permit by Chief Minister N Biren Singh prompting the party to consider other possible venues.

Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) delegates led by its president MLA K Meghachandra met with Chief Minister N Biren Singh in the morning today at around 10 .

After the meeting, K Meghachandra spoke to media persons at the gate of the Secretariat and said the Chief Minister had denied the permit to use Hapta Kangjeibung citing unfavourable law and order situation.

K Meghachandra had then said that the Congress will change the venue to a private ground located opposite Khongjom War Memorial Complex in Thoubal district.

The Yatra, slated to be launched on January 14 will be led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

K Meghachandra had said that the Government denying the permit to use Hapta Kangjeibung as the launch venue citing law and order situation was unfortunate.

The Government on many occasions had claimed that the law and order in Manipur had improved and normalcy had returned.

However, the reason the CM gave today denying the permit has proven the opposite, Meghachandra had said.

The MPCC president had asserted that the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra is not political in nature and the march will not even use a single flag of the Congress.

Renowned personalities including Chief Ministers, ex-CMs of States will participate in the Yatra.

The Yatra isn't against the State Government.

It will be democratic and it aims at bringing peace in Manipur, K Meghachandra had said.

"The Government denying the permit hasn't deterred the Congress party and its workers.

The Yatra will be launched as scheduled on January 14 from a private ground located just opposite to Khongjom War Memorial Complex in Thoubal district," K Meghachandra had said.

He had said that the venue at Khongjom will be prepared in war footing for the launch of the Yatra on January 14 .

Later in the day today, AICC secretary Zarita Laitphlang and other women Congress leaders tried to inspect Hapta Kangjeibung, but were stopped by the police.

While the police denied the Congress leaders from entering Hapta Kangjeibung, Zarita Laitphlang spoke with media persons and alleged that the Manipur Government was "afraid" of Rahul Gandhi's Yatra as it has denied the permit to use the ground.

The Prime Minister has not spoken a word on the Manipur crisis since it began months ago.

Rahul Gandhi's Nyay Yatra aims at healing the people and bringing peace and normalcy in Manipur.

The Yatra aims at fostering harmony among different communities, Zarita said.

Meanwhile, after the permission to use Hapta Kangjeibung has been given with some restrictions, Congress has not yet informed whether it will launch the Yatra from Hapta Kangejibung or from the private ground near Khongjom War Memorial Complex in Thoubal.

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