- Friday, February 28, 2025
The opposition leader said the most important thing the northeastern state needs at the moment is peace to secure lives and livelihoods of the people.
By: Shubham Ghosh
INDIAN opposition leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday (30) said he was left heartbroken after meeting people who have been affected by the violence in the north-eastern Indian state of Manipur which has continued for almost two months.
In an Instagram post, the 53-year-old leader of the Indian National Congress said, “It’s heartbreaking to see and listen to the plight of those who have lost loved ones and homes due to the violence in Manipur. There is a cry for help in the face of every brother, sister and child I meet.”
Appealing for peace in the state where more than 100 people have been killed, several have been injured and rendered homeless, Gandhi said the most important thing the state now needs is peace to secure the lives and livelihoods of the people. He said all efforts should unite towards achieving the goal.
Gandhi, who kicked off his two-day visit to Manipur on Thursday (29) and had his convoy stopped by the state police while heading for Churachandpur, one of the worst-hit districts of the state, citing safety concerns, was set to meet leaders of like-minded parties; leaders of the United Naga Council and members of civil society organisations in Imphal, the state capital.
“Rahul Gandhi will meet all the affected families and visit the relief camps in Moirang. After that, he will be back in Imphal. At Imphal Hotel he will meet civil society organisation leaders, United Naga Council’s leaders, 10 like-minded political parties and women leaders. He is here only for peace,” Manipur Congress president Keisham Meghachandra told Asian News International.
On Thursday, Gandhi met the violence-affected people in Churachandpur where he reached in a helicopter later. The Congress alleged conspiracy behind the administration of the Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled state stopping the former parliamentarian from meeting victims. It also said Gandhi was prevented from visiting Moirang, either by road or by air though the leader went there on Friday and met the affected.
On Thursday, in a tweet, Gandhi said Manipur needs healing and peace has to be the only priority.
“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,” he said.
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. pic.twitter.com/WXsnOxFLIa
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 29, 2023
He had criticised prime minister Narendra Modi over his alleged silence on the situation in Manipur, saying he was not interested in the state’s crisis.
