Rahul Gandhi’s First Visit to Manipur Since Elections, Focuses on Relief Efforts
Imphal, 8th July 2024: Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, arrived in Manipur on Monday to visit relief camps in Jiribam and Churachandpur districts, where he interacted with people displaced by ethnic violence between the Meiteis and the Kuki-Zos, which began on May 3 last year.
As per his itinerary, the Congress leader also planned to visit a relief camp in Moirang. This visit marks Gandhi’s first trip to the troubled state since being elected as the Lok Sabha MP from Uttar Pradesh’s Rae Bareli in the recent general elections. He is scheduled to meet Governor Anusuiya Uikey at Raj Bhavan at 6 pm.
Following the outbreak of ethnic violence in the state, Rahul Gandhi had previously visited the region twice. During the recent Parliament session, members of the opposition INDIA bloc disrupted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address on July 2, chanting ‘Justice for Manipur.’ Similar scenes unfolded in the Rajya Sabha during the Prime Minister’s response to the debate on the motion of thanks in the President’s address.
In his address, the Prime Minister highlighted efforts to restore peace in Manipur, including the filing of 11,000 FIRs and the arrest of 500 individuals. He noted a decline in violent incidents, signalling progress towards peace.
The violence in Jiribam erupted on June 6 following the death of Meitei farmer Soibam Sarat Singh, who was found with neck injuries. Tensions escalated further amidst reports of a missing individual from the Kuki-Zo community. Jiribam, situated along Manipur’s border with Assam and traversed by NH-37, plays a crucial role in facilitating essential supplies to the state.
Before his Manipur visit, Rahul Gandhi met with flood-affected victims in Silchar, Assam, urging the Centre to promptly provide comprehensive assistance to the state. Flooding, landslides, and storms this year have affected approximately 22.70 lakh people across 28 districts of Assam, resulting in 78 fatalities.
