Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra to now start from Khongjom
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 12 2024: Although the BJP Government, daunted by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, did not give permission for assembly of large crowds at Hapta Kangjeibung for the start of Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra on January 14, the Yatra would be flagged off from Khongjom, Thoubal district, and all preparations have been completed, said AICC Manipur in-charge Girish Chodankar.

Speaking to media persons at Congress Bhavan, BT Road here today, Girish Chodankar said that the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra would be taken out with the main objective of delivering justice, securing citizens' rights and bringing peace.

It is not a political yatra, he said.

Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra to now start from Khongjom

Appealing to the Government of Manipur to take part in the yatra, the AICC Manipur in-charge asserted that the yatra would turn out to be of big help in bringing peace in Manipur.

Asking why BJP is so afraid of Rahul Gandhi, Girish Chodankar decried that the State Government did not give permission for flagging off the march from Hapta Kangjeibung for a long time.

The State Government gave the permission quite late and that too with a number of conditions.

The BJP Government said that not more than 1000 people can assemble at Hapta Kangjeibung for the flag off ceremony.

It only implies that the Government is deadly opposed to the yatra, Girish Chodankar said.

It is a matter of grave concern that the Central Government politicised the yatra and used the Chief Minister of Manipur as an instrument to sabotage the yatra, he said.

Although the BJP Government has clamped a number of restrictions thereby derailing the Congress party's plan to flag off the march from Imphal, Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra would be flagged off from Khongjom by AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, Girish Chodankar said before appealing to all the people of Manipur to support the yatra.

MPCC president K Meghachandra said that the Congress party submitted a written application to the Imphal East DC on January 2 seeking due permission to flag off the Manipur-Mumbai march from Hapta Kangjeibung, Imphal.

Seeking the State Government's permission for the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, we met Chief Minister N Biren on January 10 .

Contrary to all the expectations, the State Government issued an order in the afternoon of the same day saying that not more than 1000 people can participate in the flag off ceremony at Hapta Kangjeibung, Meghachandra said.

As the State Government has denied permission for assembly of large crowds at Hapta Kangjeibung, the Congress party has decided to hold the flag off ceremony at a private ground located near the Khongjom War Memorial complex.

The Thoubal DC gave permission yesterday for flagging off the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra from the private ground on January 14, he said.

The MPCC president also appealed to all the people of Manipur to support and participate in the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra so as to bring peace and unity in Manipur.

The march from Manipur to Mumbai would be led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and it is aimed at ensuring political, economic and social justice in the country.

CLP leader Okram Ibobi recalled that the Congress party had already organised a long march from Kanyakumari to Kashmir with resounding success.

Congress party has been planning another long march christened Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra with Imphal (Hapta Kangjeibung) as the starting point, he said.

Hapta Kangjeibung has been the first choice for holding any mega public rally including those addressed by the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister of India regardless of whichever party is in power in the State, Ibobi said.

It is rather unfortunate that the BJP Government has been trying to sabotage the yatra by restricting the number of people who can participate in the flag off ceremony to just 1000, he decried.

This rally is a very special one and it would go down in the history of India as a landmark event.

It is not a rally limited to the Congress workers alone, Ibobi said.

He then appealed to all political parties active in Manipur and all the people of the State to take part in the rally.

CWC Member Gaikhangam, MLA Th Lokeshwar and many other Congress leaders were also present at the press meet.

Meanwhile ten political parties viz; AAP, Forward Bloc, AITC, CPI, CPI(M), INC, JD(U), NCP, RSP and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray) have declared support to the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.

Speaking on behalf of the ten parties, JD(U) National executive member Dr Nimaichand Luwang remarked that it is a matter of pride for Manipur that the mega rally would start from the State.

He also condemned the BJP Government's attempt to sabotage the mega rally.

The rally would prove to be a big help in any effort towards restoring peace in Manipur.

Dr Nimaichand said that the State Government should be held accountable for the brutal killing of four innocent woodcutters at Kumbi Haotak even though the body of one could not be traced so far.

CPI Manipur State Council former Secretary L Sotinkumar said that representatives and members of the 10 political parties would take part in the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra from Khongjom to Sekmai.

He wished that the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra may awaken Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the protracted Manipur crisis.