PM Modi could end Manipur violence: Rahul Gandhi
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, January 22 2024:
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi highlighted the challenges faced by Manipur and the broader north-eastern states while emphasising the need for unity and empowerment in a public gathering of the party's 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' at Nongpoh in Meghalaya on Monday.
Reflecting on the Bharat Jodo Yatra' conducted from Kanyakumari to Kashmir , he explained the motivation behind the walk - a response to perceived attacks by the BJP and RSS on core Indian ideals, including the harmonious coexistence of religions and respect for diverse communities, languages, and traditions.
The leader underlined the significance of the 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra,' which commenced from Manipur due to the ideological challenges faced by the state.
He expressed concern over the violence, political unrest, and tragic consequences affecting Manipur, and lamented lack of attention from the Prime Minister and the government despite the prolonged crisis.
"The politics of hatred and violence has torn Manipur apart.
Hundreds of people have died, thousands of people have lost their properties.
It is a complete tragedy and that is why, we wanted to send a message to the rest of India about the pain that the people of Manipur are feeling," he said.
He slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not visiting the state even after many months.
"Is Manipur not an Indian state? Are the people of Manipur not from India? The Prime Minister has travelled to so many states, but he refuses to go to Manipur," Rahul said.
He further said that if the Prime Minister wanted to stop the violence in Manipur, he could stop it in three days.
"If he told the Indian Army that the violence in Manipur should be stopped, I am confident that the Indian Army would have stopped the violence within a matter of days.
The truth is - he is not interested in stopping the violence in Manipur.
The government of India is perfectly happy to allow Manipur to burn and the people of Manipur to suffer," he added.
He emphasised that the Yatra traversed through Manipur, Nagaland, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and now, Meghalaya, treating each state with equal importance.
"You might be smaller than Uttar Pradesh but for us, all states in the Indian Union are equally important.
We do not view a child of Manipur, a child of Meghalaya any different than we view a child of Uttar Pradesh or Bihar or Tamil Naidu, Rahul Gandhi said.
Rahul Gandhi also alleged attack on the cultural and historical fabric of Meghalaya and other Northeastern states by the RSS, asserting that their languages, traditions, and ways of life are being targeted.
He criticised the BJP-led government for centralising power, undermining autonomy, and said that reversing the decentralisation efforts aimed at empowering the people.
The Congress leader highlighted the socio-economic challenges faced by the Northeast, including the highest levels of unemployment in 40 years.
He criticised the Home Minister s labelling of Meghalaya's government as the most corrupt before forming an alliance with it, pointing out scams like the illegal coal transport and the Assembly dome collapse.
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