RaGa takes first hand account of relief camps
Interacts with inmates, assures all possible help
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal/Moirang, June 30 2023: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has assured all possible help from his side toward restoration of peace and normalcy in the State.

Briefing media persons at the Raj Bhavan gate after his meeting with the Governor, Rahul Gandhi appealed to all the people of Manipur to shed all tendency of violence.

Noting that the current situation of Manipur is distressing, the Congress leader conveyed solidarity to the suffering people.

"I visited relief camps and talked with people of different communities.

There is an urgent need to provide more facilities at the relief camps, particularly medicines", he said.

"Please, give up violence.

It's time for all the people to bring peace in Manipur", Rahul Gandhi said.

Appealing to all the people to spread the message of love and reconciliation, the Congress leader assured all possible help from his side towards restoration of peace and normalcy in Manipur.

Before his meeting with the Governor, the Congress leader interacted with CSO leaders, intellectuals and academicians at Hotel Imphal.

RaGa takes first hand account of relief camps

Prof N Joykumar, Prof Bimol Akoijam, Dr Chinglen Maisnam, Dr Dhanabir Laishram, leaders of COCOMI, UCM, AMMOCOC, STDCM and many others were present at the meeting.

During his meeting with Governor Anusuiya Uikey, Rahul Gandhi informed about his visit to relief camps in Churachandpur, Imphal East and Bishnupur districts and the hardships experienced by the displaced people who have been staying in the relief camps since the violent crisis erupted on May 3 .

He expressed his deep concern about the shortage of essential items like baby foods and medicine of various ailments.

Further, he expressed deep concern about the law and order situation in the State.

Rahul Gandhi reiterated that his party will extend fullest cooperation to bring peace and tranquillity in the State so that the immemorial history of co-existence is preserved and promoted.

The Governor informed Rahul Gandhi about the common programme of actions already taken up/proposed to be taken up by both the Central and State Governments to restore peace and tranquillity and bring the situation under control through dialogue.

Earlier, Rahul Gandhi, accompanied by some AICC and MPCC leaders, went to Moirang by helicopter and visited two relief camps.

A large number of people accorded a warm reception to Rahul Gandhi at Moirang.

From Raj Bhavan, Rahul Gandhi went to Imphal airport for his return journey to Delhi.

At Moirang, a large number of Meira Paibis lined all along from Ngangkhalawai to Moirang Konjengbam Leikai and extended a hearty welcome to the Congress leader.

Apart from interacting with the people driven out from Churachandpur who are currently taking shelter in a relief camp opened at Moirang Konjengbam Leikai, Rahul Gandhi also made an assessment of the relief camp's surroundings.

Rahul Gandhi also paid floral tributes to the statue of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose at Moirang Konjengbam Leikai.

He then visited another relief camp opened at Moirang College.

Interacting with the displaced people, Rahul Gandhi assured that he would do everything within his capacity to bring an end to the violent crisis.

One man from Khuga Tampak who is currently taking shelter at Moirang College said that they were gratified on seeing Rahul Gandhi personally visiting the displaced people.

"We are not served any breakfast in the morning and lunch is served in the afternoon.

The living space is also quite messy and muddy.

We are afraid of contracting diseases any time.

We are only struggling for bare survival", said the man.

Rahul Gandhi assured the inmates of the relief camp that he would certainly take up some concrete steps to improve their living conditions in consultation with the authorities concerned, the man conveyed.

"Many leaders came, took photos and gave assurances but they did nothing to alleviate our suffering.

It's humiliating to all of us", he said.

"What peeves us the most at the moment is the question/salutation 'Are you well", he added.

Saying that all the displaced people taking shelter in relief camps were deeply hurt when some people blocked the way when a National leader came to visit them yesterday, the man appealed to all concerned not to play dirty politics in the name of the displaced people.

Another woman, taking shelter in the relief camp, conveyed gratitude to Rahul Gandhi for visiting them personally and enquiring about their suffering.

The woman reportedly told Rahul Gandhi that the Meitei people were deeply hurt when Kuki immigrants launched massive attacks without any provocation and drove them away from their homes.

Another woman told the Congress leader that all their houses were burnt down by Kuki immigrants.

"Moreover, our homesteads have been levelled and taken over by Kukis", she narrated.

On the other hand, Kuki houses located at Imphal are being guarded by security forces day and night.

Such biased and partisan attitude of the Government is simply intolerable, she said. She then appealed to both the Central Government and the State Government to re-construct their houses in Churachandpur at those places where their houses once stood.