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The Congress on Thursday hit out at the BJP after its senior leader Rahul Gandhi was stopped en route to Churachandpur in Manipur, where he was going to visit relief camps housing victims of the nearly two-month-long violence in the state.
On a two-day visit to the state, Rahul is the first big national Opposition leader to visit Manipur since the violence began on May 3. Union Home Minister Amit Shah came to the state towards the end of May.
Rahul later made his way to Churachandpur by helicopter, five hours behind schedule.
The Trinamool Congress also questioned the state BJP government’s move, adding that earlier, party chief Mamata Banerjee had been denied permission to visit Manipur.
The Opposition has been attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his “silence” on Manipur despite the continuing violence that has left more than 120 dead, and thousands displaced.
Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters in Delhi, the BJP, however, took on Rahul, accusing him of “irresponsible behaviour” and blaming the death of a person on Thursday in the state on his “stubbornness”.
BJP national spokesperson and Manipur in-charge Sambit Patra said the local administration had asked Rahul to visit Churachandpur in a chopper in view of the prevailing tension in the state, but he refused and went by road.
The distance from Imphal to Churachandpur is around 55 km, via Imphal West and Bishnupur districts. His convoy was halted by the police in front of the Bishnupur Police Station, around 23 km away from the border to Churachandpur district.
This led to tension and a confrontation, with a crowd that was demanding unhindered passage for the Congress leader clashing with the police. Teargas shells were used to disperse the crowd, and a security escort accompanying the Congress convoy sustained injuries.
Rahul tweeted: “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.”
Manipur PCC president K Meghachandra contested the claims of the police that it was acting out of security concerns, and accused them of orchestrating a premeditated drama.
In Delhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge called the incident an attempt by the BJP government to stall Rahul’s outreach. “He is going there to meet the people suffering in relief camps and to provide a healing touch… 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 Shri Rahul Gandhi… Manipur needs peace, NOT confrontation,” he tweeted.
Congress communication head Jairam Ramesh and AICC general secretary in-charge of organisation K C Venugopal, who is accompanying Rahul on his two-day visit, also attacked the government. “Rahul’s two-day visit to Manipur is in the spirit of the Bharat Jodo Yatra,” Ramesh said. “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?”
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said: “Rahul Gandhi has gone to Manipur to share the pain of the people there and convey the message of peace. The BJP government should also do the same thing.”
Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole said Rahul’s convoy being stopped was another example of the Modi government’s “dictatorship”. “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 sent him back,” Patole claimed.
TMC MP Derek O’Brien said the Manipur Police’s actions show “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.”
At the press meet at BJP office, Patra claimed that several civil society organisations, including Manipur students’ unions, were protesting for the last two to three days since the news about Rahul’s visit appeared in media, he said.
“It is very sad that with that stubbornness, Rahul Gandhi went to Manipur, it was not right. Sensitivity is far more important than stubbornness when there is such a situation… Rahul Gandhi’s behaviour was highly irresponsible. Rahul and responsibility never go together,” Patra said.
He added that while there was no incident or reports of loss of life in Manipur since June 13, “very sadly… there is news about loss of a life today”, Patra said. “I want to request with folded hands… the situation is coming under control in Manipur. Let us not fight for petty political gains.”
(With PTI inputs)
