Manipur rolls out red carpet for RaGa's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra
Mallikarjun Kharge goes on the offensive against indifference of PM to 8 months old unrest
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 14 2024: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi kick-started the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra (BJNY) from Khongjom in Thoubal district today.

The Yatra which will conclude at Mumbai was flagged off by AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge at around 4 pm.

The flight of Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi was delayed due to dense fog and they landed in Imphal at around 1.30 pm.

The Congress leaders reached Khongjom at around 2.30 pm and they paid floral tributes at Khongjom War Memorial.

At the venue, Mallikarjun Kharge unveiled the bus which Rahul Gandhi will use during the Yatra.

The programme was attended by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, ex-Congress Chief Ministers and MPs of the party, executives of AICC and thousands of supporters.

Manipur rolls out red carpet for RaGa's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra

Former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi, MPCC president K Meghachandra, Congress Working Committee member Gaikhangam, Congress MLAs and representatives of the bloc of 10 political parties also attended the launch function.

The gathering exceeded much more than the permission given by the State Government which allowed gathering of 3,000 people at Khongjom.

Rahul Gandhi kick-started his Yatra at 4 pm amid tight security measures.

Ahead of the Yatra, a public meeting was held during which Mallikarjun Kharge handed over a tri colour flag which will be taken from Manipur to Mumbai by Rahul Gandhi and unveiled the bus on which Congress leaders will travel.

Speaking at the function, Rahul Gandhi said that the Congress party understands the plight of the people of Manipur and will strive at its best level to restore normalcy and bring forth a peaceful and harmonious Manipur.

The Congress party will surely bring peace in Manipur, the Congress MP assured and added that the grand old party will deliver social justice to every Indian.

Many have died in Manipur while many others have been injured and got displaced in the last eight months, Rahul Gandhi continued and reiterated that the Congress can feel the pain and suffering of the people of Manipur.

The ruling BJP and RSS, however, don't understand the situation in which the people of Manipur have been living since the violence broke out on May 3 last nor feel their pain, he charged.

Asking why Prime Minister Narendra Modi is still not visiting Manipur to end the conflict, Rahul Gandhi accused the Prime Minister, BJP and RSS of being unfair to the people of Manipur and not taking Manipur as a part of India.

The Congress MP said that it was him who insisted on launching the second leg of his outreach programme from Manipur.

What people of Manipur want is justice and peaceful coexistence, Rahul Gandhi continued and added that all those who support BJNY came to the venue to share the suffering of the people who have been directly affected by the violence.

Saying that he will spread the message of Manipur to different parts of India and make the entire country aware of the agony of the people of Manipur, the Congress MP reiterated that the aim of BJNY is to raise several issues besieging the country and deliver social justice.

Manipur is not the same anymore, Rahul Gandhi continued and added that the socal harmony he had seen among the people of Manipur when he entered politics in 2004 had disappeared.

Cries of separation, displacement and heartbreak reverberate in contemporary Manipur, the Congress leader sighed and continued that there is no let up in cases of violence and monstrosity in the State.

AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge, on the other hand, said that the aim of BJNY is to deliver social and economic justice to fellow Indians.

Saying that former Prime Ministers Jawaharal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi had strived to take North East India to greater heights, Kharge reminded that it was first Prime Minister Jawaharal Nehru who called Manipur the jewel of India.

Manipur which has its own identity and uniqueness among the North East States and plays a key role in shaping a united India now sits above a raging fire of violence, he rued.

He also said that the contribution of Manipur in Indian sports is immense.

Saying that the last time Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to Manipur was for an electoral campaign, Kharge added that the Prime Minister has time to go on foreign tours but cannot spare even a day to visit the State which has been burning since the last eight months.

The attitude the Prime Minister shows to the people of Manipur is unbecoming of the position he holds, Kharge asserted.

The AICC chief then said that BJP has ignored the people of Manipur.

The Prime Minister chants Ram Ram but he governs the country with a sword in his heart, Kharge claimed and added that Narendra Modi doesn't have any sympathy for the fellow humans.

Kharge also accused the BJP of spending on publicity instead of engaging in development works.

BJNY, the hybrid march will cover over 6600 Kms in 110 districts of 15 States and conclude at Mumbai.

The Yatra for the day ended at Koirengei after passing through Wangjing, Thoubal, Lilong, Singjamei and North AOC.

People came out at different places along the route and greeted Rahul Gandhi and his team.

Rahul Gandhi also interacted with his supporters at some places.