After road trip halt Rahul lakes chopper to reach CCpur
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 29 2023: Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday had to take helicopter ride to reach Churachandpur district after Bishnupur district police stopped his convoy citing law and order issue.

Gandhi had to stop at Bishnupur, around 20 kilometres from here, after police halted his convoy around 1 pm fearing attacks on it.

The Congress leader, who was on a two-day visit to the strife-torn state from Thursday, came back to the Imphal airport and took a state government-provided chopper to visit Churachandpur accompanied by top police and administration officials.

Bishnupur police fired tear canisters to disperse demonstrators some of whom wanted Rahul to proceed to Churachandpur while others opposed his visit.

Rahul was accompanied by former chief minister O Ibobi Singh, MPCC president K Meghachandra, MLAs Th Lokeshor and K Ranjit, and formers MLA I Hemochan-dra and N Loken.

Ibobi told media persons that Rahul Gandhi wanted to meet violence-affected people and enquire about their hardships and suffering.

However, a large team of Bishnupur police stopped Rahul's convoy and police fired tear gas shells to disperse local women who were clearing way for Rahul Gandhi.

Condemning excessive action of police, he said stopping Rahul Gandhi's convoy at Bishnupur was unreasonable and officials concerned should have asked Rahul to visit Churachandpur by helicopter at Imphal airport itself.

Though Rahul Gandhi's convoy made U-turn from Bishnupur, large numbers of women stopped the convoy at Thongjaorok insisting that he should visit Churachandpur by road.

However, MPCC president K Meghachandra convinced the women and returned back to Imphal.After reaching Churachan dpur district hours behind schedule as his convoy of vehicles was stopped by the police mid, Rahul Gandhi visited people displaced by the ethnic strife in a relief camp and interacted with the inmates.

"I came to listen to all my brothers and sisters of Manipur.

People of all communities are being very welcoming and loving.

It's very unfortunate that the government is stopping me.

Manipur needs healing.

Peace has to be our only priority, Gandhi said on Twitter after meeting some victims of the violence at a relief camp.

The government action is "totally unacceptable and shatters all constitutional and democratic norms,said Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of using "autocratic methods" to stall his "compassionate outreach"' to those hit by ethnic violence.

In a tweet, Kharge said, "Gandhi was going there to meet the people suffering in relief camps and to provide a healing touch in the strife-torn state.

PM Modi has not bothered to break his silence on Manipur.

He has left the state to fend for itself" .

"Now, his double engine disastrous governments are using autocratic methods to stall a compassionate outreach by Rahul Gandhi.

This is totally unacceptable and shatters all constitutional and democratic norms.

Manipur needs peace not confrontation, " he added.

Congress general secretary, organisation, KC Venugopal, who accompanied Gandhi, said, "After initially allowing us, our convoy led by Rahul Gandhi was stalled near Bishnupur on the orders of the Manipur CM" .

"Such moves are unfortunate and have no place in a democracy.

At a time when the victims of Manipur are suffering, Rahul ji is in Manipur to deliver a message of peace and harmony.

"Manipur today needs a healing touch, not further acrimony.

It is our consti tutional right to travel across Manipur, interact with the people who have suffered so much, and build bridges be tween communities, " Venugopal said on Twitter.

Police officials said tyres were burnt on the highway near Utlou village in Bishnu pur district and a few stones were thrown at the convoy.

A police officer said in Imphal, "We fear repetition of such events and hence as a precaution, requested the convoy to halt at Bishnupur" .

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said it is "most unfortunate" that the Modi government is preventing the Gandhi scion from visiting the relief camps and interacting with people outside Imphal.

"His 2-day visit to Manipur is in the spirit of the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

The prime minister may choose to remain silent or be inactive, but why stop Rahul Gandhi's efforts to listen to all sections of the Manipuri society and provide a healing touch, " he asked.

Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala said Manipur is burning for the past two months and there is no rule of law.

"There is so much helplessness that no ray of hope for peace is in sight.

Modi ji is 'silent', the Home Minister has shrugged off his failures.

It seems as if Manipur is not even on the map of India for the BJP government.

In such a situation, when Rahul Gandhi reached Manipur as a relief soldier' to heal wounds, he was stopped, " he tweeted in Hindi.

Speaking at a press conference, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said the prime minister will not go to Manipur and if Gandhi goes to calm this atmosphere of violence and hatred, Modi will leave no stone unturned to stop him.

"What is the fear after all? Is it that your failure and insensitivity will be exposed or is it that he has enmity with love and peace," she asked.

"What is the reason that Biren Singh is still the chief minister (of Manipur) ? Had it been any other government, it would have been dismissed by now.

Rahul Gandhi is going to Manipur to ensure that people there do not feel alienated.

He is going to spread the message of love, peace, healing and harmony.

Why has the prime minister not spoken a word on Manipur? What are they scared about?" she asked.

The Congress spokesperson alleged the prime minister has time to address a party function in Madhya Pradesh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has time to visit Bihar and BJP president JP Nadda to Rajasthan, but they do not have time to visit Manipur and wipe the tears of those affected by the violence there.

"We condemn this.

Stopping him is a sin.

Is meeting someone affected by violence a crime and spreading brotherhood a crime?" she asked.

Rahul Gandhi was scheduled to meet with the affected families at the Greenwood Academy, Tuibong and Churachandpur College and at community hall, Konjeng-bam and Moirang College.

The Congress has questioned the silence of the Prime Min ister over violence in Manipur which began on May 3 .

The Congress has also been demanding the removal of Manipur Chief Minister N.Biren Singh for failing miserably to control the situation in the state.

On the other-hand, thousands of people who waited at Moirang to meet Rahul Gandhi returned home dejectedly as police prohibited the Congress leaders from proceeding to Churachandpur by road.

After the convoy of Rahul Gandhi was stopped in front of Bishnupur police station former chief minister O Ibobi, former deputy chief minister Gaikhangam and MPCC president Meghachandra insisted on travelling till Moirang, which the police flatly denied by putting up barricades and vehicle in the middle of the road.

Later in the evening, Rahul Gandhi returned to the state's capital and interacted with inmates of the relief camp opened at Ideal College, Akampat.

(with inputs from PTI) .

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