Stopped from travelling by road

Imphal: Allegedly stopped from travelling by road by the administration, former Congress President Shri Rahul Gandhi took the aerial route to violence-scarred Manipur’s Churachandpur, a Kuki-dominated hill district, on June 29, 2023 afternoon. Hundreds of people were waiting by the roadside to welcome the Congress leader.

Shri Rahul Gandhi visited two Kuki relief camps one in Tuibuong and the other in Hiangtam and interacted with the victims and leaders of some civil society organisations after reaching his destination, hours behind schedule, by a chopper from the State’s capital Imphal. Congress leaders from Manipur said that Shri Rahul Gandhi had to rush through his programmes after landing at 4:10 pm as he was allowed time up to 5 p.m.

Congress leader also visited a major relief camp in Imphal housing displaced Meiteis and took feedback from the inmates.

“I came to Manipur to listen to and understand what has happened and to try and bring back peace,” Shri Rahul Gandhi said, after visiting two relief camps housing Kuki people displaced from the Imphal Valley.

Tribal separation demand

Churachandpur, dominated by the Kukis and associated tribes, has been one of the worst-hit districts since the ongoing ethnic clashes between the Kukis and the majority Meiteis broke out on May 3, killing more than 150 people and displacing over 50,000.

“You are going through a very difficult time. My full affection and my heart and ears are with you and all the people of Manipur. If you have any issues at the camp, please let me know. You have given me a memorandum. But if you have any other issues, we will send our people here,” former Congress President said.

The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF), an apex body of the Kukis and associated tribes, submitted a memorandum to Congress leader Shri Rahul Gandhi, seeking his help for the total separation of the tribal people from Manipur.

The convoy carrying Shri Rahul Gandhi was stopped almost midway by the Bishnupur district authorities, citing the prevailing law-and-order situation. The Congress leader decided to take a helicopter to reach his destination, after the police fired tear gas shells to disperse a large crowd that had gathered around.

‘Crowds waiting for Rahul Ji’

State Congress President K. Meghachandra accused the Chief Minister of directing the Bishnupur district authorities to “totally block” Shri Gandhi’s convoy. ”We spoke to the Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police but to no avail. A lot of people were standing by the roadside to welcome Rahul Ji, who came to meet the violence-affected families in the hills as well as the Imphal Valley,” he said.

On Day 2, Shri Rahul Gandhi visits relief camps, meets civil society, refuses to speak on PM ‘silence’: ‘Not here to do politics’

After visiting camps in Kuki-dominated Churachandpur on June 29, 2023, Rahul Gandhi Ji goes to those in Meitei areas on June 30, 2023, and also meets the Governor. “I share the pain of the people of Manipur,” Congress leader Shri Rahul Gandhi said, concluding his two-day visit to the conflict-hit state. “It is a horrible tragedy. It is extremely sad and painful for all the people of Manipur and the people of India as well,” he said, after meeting Governor Anusuiya Uikey at the Raj Bhawan. Earlier in the day, he had visited two relief camps in Moirang in the Meitei-dominated Bishnupur district and paid floral tribute at a memorial to the Indian National Army. He had been accompanied by former Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, Party General Secretary (organisation) Shri KC Venugopal, MPCC President K Meghachandra Singh and former MP Ajoy Kumar. On June 30, 2023, he had also met representatives of different civil society organizations such as the COCOMI, United Naga Council and the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee. When asked to comment on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on Manipur, he replied, “I am not here to play politics. I came for a peace initiative mission”.

Shri Rahul Gandhi Met Manipur Governor

“I went to the camps and found a lack of medicines, etc. The government needs to take up necessary steps in this regard. Violence is not the solution...I appeal for peace,” said Shri Rahul Gandhi before returning to New Delhi.

The ethnic violence was triggered in Churachandpur after tribal Kuki groups called for protests against a proposal for granting scheduled tribe status to the majority Meitei community. Tensions between the dominant Meitei community, which largely lives in the Imphal valley and comprises 53% of the population, and the Kukis, who reside in the hill districts and makeup 16% of the population, have continued to simmer.