Manipur CM N Biren Singh finally decided to drop the plan of resigning as people gathered in large numbers outside his house lending support to his government. (File Photo)Manipur News Highlights (June 30): Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh was moments away from resigning on Friday, only to be stopped by a massive crowd that had gathered outside his residence, lending support to his government. As the CM left his residence along with 20 MLAs to meet the Governor, he had to head back as crowds outside wouldn’t let him go through. After some time, a few ministers led by the PWD Minister came out to address the gathering, with Minister Susidro Metitei reading out the resignation letter which was supposed to be submitted to the Governor. After this, the paper was handed over to some of the gathered women, who tore it.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi met the Manipur Governor Friday. Talking to reporters after the meeting, he said, “Manipur needs peace. I want peace to be restored here. I visited some relief camps, there are deficiencies in these relief camps, the government should work for this.” Later in the day, he will meet ‘like-minded’ party leaders, United Naga Council (UNC) leaders, and members of civil society organisations in his Imphal hotel today, Manipur Congress president Keisham Meghachandra was quoted by news agency ANI as saying.
Yesterday, Rahul had to take a chopper to Churachandpur to visit relief camps after his convoy was stopped by the police in Bishnupur area. Hitting out at the BJP-led state government, he said that he had come to listen to the brothers and sisters of Manipur but was being stopped from doing so. “It’s very unfortunate that the government is stopping me. Manipur needs healing. Peace has to be our only priority,” he wrote on Twitter.
As speculations that Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh is going to resign went on throughout the day, the CM himself, taking to Twitter, announced a clarification. "At this crucial juncture, I wish to clarify that I will not be resigning from the post of Chief Minister," he wrote.
Following a morning of speculation, the Manipur government spokesperson said Chief Minister Biren Singh will not be resigning.Singh had planned to meet the Governor during the day, fuelling speculation that he could step down. Read More
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said Manipur needs peace as violence is no solution, after meeting Governor Anusuiya Uikey here on Friday.
"I'm ready to whatever is needed for peace. I am appealing to everybody to maintain peace, violence can never be the way out," he told reporters outside the Raj Bhavan.
Congress officials said that the governor assured that steps are being taken to restore peace in the ethnic strife-hit state. Earlier during the day, he met members of Manipur civil society organisations here and listened to their problems.
Among the different organisations that he met included the Coordination Committee on Manipur Integrity (CoCoMI), a civil society organization, representatives of United Naga Council, the apex body of Naga community in Manipur, the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee, and prominent personalities including JNU professor Bimol A. Gandhi also visited two relief camps at Moirang in Bishnupur district, party officials said. (PTI)
Amid speculation that Manipur CM N Biren Singh could resign, hundreds of women have gathered near his residence in Imphal and are forming a human chain, saying that they do not want him to resign.
'All the mothers of Manipur are gathering here because they are not happy with the CM's decision. As a son of the soil, he should take responsibility and protect the people. If he resigns, President's Rule will be inevitable, which is not acceptable,' said Sarojini Leima, one of the women gathered there.
Men wearing black T-shirts, which are associated with radical Meitei group Arambai Tenggol, are also arriving there.
The official handle of the Congress shared photos of party leader Rahul Gandhi having lunch with children at a relief camp in Churachandpur on June 29.
Yesterday, Rahul had to take a chopper to Churachandpur to visit relief camps after his convoy was stopped by the police in Bishnupur area. Hitting out at the BJP-led state government, he said that he had come to listen to the brothers and sisters of Manipur but was being stopped from doing so. “It’s very unfortunate that the government is stopping me. Manipur needs healing. Peace has to be our only priority,” he wrote on Twitter.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi reached Moirang in Manipur, where he is interacting with affected people in relief camps.
Later, he will meet 10 like-minded party leaders, United Naga Council (UNC) leaders and civil society organisation members in Imphal.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi left for Moirang from Imphal on Friday, in order to visit relief camps and interact with affected people there, according to state party president Keisham Meghachandra.
Later, he will meet 10 like-minded party leaders, United Naga Council (UNC) leaders and civil society organisation members in Imphal.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will meet ‘like-minded’ party leaders, United Naga Council (UNC) leaders, and members of civil society organisations in his Imphal hotel today, Manipur Congress president Keisham Meghachandra was quoted by news agency ANI as saying.
Following two relatively quiet weeks in Manipur, Thursday saw heightened tension in Imphal in the wake of two deaths early in the morning. Two bodies belonging to members of the Meitei community were recovered in Haraothel village in Kangpokpi district’s border with Imphal West after heavy firing. Read More
Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole on Thursday hit out at the Centre after Rahul Gandhi's convoy was stopped in Manipur, and dubbed the incident as an example of the Narendra Modi government's "dictatorship".
In a statement, Patole said the violence in Manipur has not subsided even after 52 days and it is unfortunate for the country and citizens of the north-eastern state that despite the violence, the prime minister has not uttered even a word on it.
"Rahul Gandhi was stopped when he was going to speak to the people of Manipur. It is an example of PM Modi's dictatorial regime," he said. "Is it a crime to wipe the tears of violence-hit Manipuris?" Patole asked.
He also alleged that PM Modi's stand on Manipur violence is more insensitive than that of Nero's when Rome was burning. "Rahul Gandhi was visiting Manipur to know the sufferings of the local people. He was initially allowed to go by road, and people of Manipur turned up in thousands to welcome him. Seeing the popularity of Rahul Gandhi, the BJP government got scared and intercepted his convoy and sent him back," he alleged. (PTI)
Hours after Rahul Gandhi’s convoy was stopped by the police while he was on his way to Churachandpur district, former Manipur CM and Congress leader Okram Ibobi Singh said, “In this type of dictatorship... what is the fate of our democracy? This is a sample. This is dictatorship. We are not coming here for politics. We are here to meet the people who are suffering, to console them.”
The TMC on Thursday hit out at the Centre after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's convoy was stopped by police near Bishnupur in Manipur, alleging that it shows the BJP's "desperation".
“Modi-Shah's BJP is desperate now. A month ago, Mamata Banerjee wrote a letter seeking permission to enter Manipur. She was not allowed. Exactly a month later, Rahul Gandhi was also denied entry. This is definitely the last 300 days of BJP government,” TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien said.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on July 3 a plea by an NGO seeking Army protection for the minority Kuki tribals in Manipur and prosecution of communal groups attacking them.
A bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narasimha and Manoj Misra will be hearing the petition filed by NGO ‘Manipur Tribal Forum'. On June 20, a vacation bench headed by Justice Surya Kant had declined urgent hearing on the plea, saying it's a law and order issue which the administration should tackle.
Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, appearing for the NGO had submitted notwithstanding the solemn assurances that nobody will die, 70 tribals have been killed in ethnic violence in the state. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the State had opposed the prayer for urgent hearing, and asserted security agencies are on the ground doing their best to stem violence and restore normalcy.
He had submitted that the main matter pertaining to the Manipur High Court's order for grant of Scheduled Tribe status to the majority Meitei community, which set off a chain of violence in the northeastern state, has been posted for hearing on July 17 by the top court. The vacation bench had then posted the plea of the NGO for hearing on July 3. (PTI)
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who had to take a chopper to Churachandpur today afternoon to visit relief camps there after his convoy was stopped by the police in Bishnupur area, hit out at the BJP-led state government, saying that he had come to listen to the brothers and sisters of Manipur but was being stopped from doing so. “It’s very unfortunate that the government is stopping me. Manipur needs healing. Peace has to be our only priority,” he wrote on Twitter.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took a chopper to Churachandpur today afternoon after his convoy was stopped by the police in Bishnupur area fearing violence. After reaching the district that has been worst-hit by the weeks-long violence, the senior Congress leader visited the relief camps to take stock of the situation and interact with the displaced people.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took a chopper to Churachandpur today afternoon after his convoy was stopped by the police in Bishnupur area fearing violence. "There is a security threat. We cannot take the risk of allowing Rahul Gandhi to proceed,” a senior police official had said. This led to a war of words between the Congress and the BJP, with the former alleging that this was an attempt to thwart Rahul Gandhi's visit.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday took a helicopter to visit Churachandpur, after being stuck at Bishnupur for hours as his convoy was stopped by the police, sources said.
Rahul had to stop at Bishnupur, around 20 kilometres from Imphal, after police halted his convoy fearing attacks on it. “Rahul Gandhi took a state government-provided chopper to visit Churachandpur. Top police and administration officials accompanied him in the helicopter," said a source at the airport.
The Congress leader, who was on a two-day visit to the ethnic strife-torn northeastern state from Thursday, came back to the Imphal airport from Bishnupru and boarded the helicopter, the sources said.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday took a helicopter to visit Churachandpur, after being stuck at Bishnupur for hours as his convoy was stopped by the police, sources said.
Rahul had to stop at Bishnupur, around 20 kilometres from Imphal, after police halted his convoy fearing attacks on it. “Rahul Gandhi took a state government-provided chopper to visit Churachandpur. Top police and administration officials accompanied him in the helicopter,” a source at the airport said.
The Congress leader, who was on a two-day visit to the ethnic strife-torn northeastern state from Thursday, came back to the Imphal airport from Bishnupru and boarded the helicopter, the sources said. (PTI)
Earlier today, there was another death in an incident of firing along the border of Imphal West and Kangpokpi districts. According to army inputs, the incident started at around 5:30 am following an attack on the Kuki village Haraothel. There was retaliatory fire and Army was deployed in the area.
“While enroute to the site, our columns drew fire from armed rioters. The troops responded in a calibrated manner to prevent any collateral damage. Swift action by the troops resulted in cessation of firing. Additional columns have been moved to the area. Unconfirmed reports indicate some casualties,” an army spokesperson said.
In the heavy firing, that continued till around 9 am, one person from the Meitei community is reported to have been killed.
Bishnupur SP Heisnam Balram Singh, while explaining about why Rahul Gandhi’s convoy was stopped, said: “Seeing the ground situation, we stopped him (Rahul Gandhi) from moving forward and advised him to travel to Churachandpur via helicopter. There is a possibility of a grenade attack along the highway through which Rahul Gandhi is moving. Keeping his security and safety in mind, we've not allowed him.”
The BJP, while reacting to the news, asked the Congress to look at the sensitive situation in the state. BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra said: “Looking into the sensitive situation to understand is more important than being “stubborn” for petty political gains.”
K Meghachandra, Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee president, while reacting to the news, said: “People are standing on the roads to welcome Rahul Gandhi but Bishnupur. SP, ASP, ADM and other police officials are blocking the roads. I have heard that there were instructions given by Manipur CM to block the roads. They are politicising this. They are saying that the law-and-order situation is not good and are not allowing us to move ahead.”
The Congress on Thursday hit out at the government after Rahul Gandhi's convoy was stopped by the police near Bishnupur in Manipur and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of using "autocratic methods" to stall his "compassionate outreach" to the people hit by ethnic violence. The government action is "totally unacceptable and shatters all constitutional and democratic norms," Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said.
In a tweet, Kharge said, "Gandhi's convoy in Manipur has been stopped by the police near Bishnupur. He is 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.
Good afternoon and welcome to our Live Blog as we bring to you the latest news about Rahul Gandhi's visit to Manipur. The senior Congress leader's convoy was stopped at Bishnupur earlier in the afternoon as he was on his way to Churachandpur district, one of the worst-hit areas by the weeks-long ethnic clashes that have broken out in the state. He is currently going back to Imphal from where he is scheduled to take a chopper to the designated areas he was planning to visit.