Northeast Desk, 14th January: Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh expressed deep concerns on January 14 regarding Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s visit to the state. Singh feared a repeat of the turmoil witnessed during the leader’s previous visit, stating, “The yatra is not Bharat Jodo; it is Bharat Todo for me. Last time when Rahul Gandhi visited, he tore apart Manipur, and now, when Manipur is slowly getting back to normal, he has come again to tear it apart.”
Singh highlighted the need for caution among the people, recalling the adverse impacts of Rahul Gandhi’s earlier visit. Speaking on the sidelines of the 8th Armed Forces Veterans Day-2024, he emphasized, “This is not the time for politics through organizing rallies, especially in a state like Manipur. It is a time for revival, not divisive actions.”
Rahul Gandhi arrived at the Bir Tikendrajit International Airport in Imphal, Manipur, commencing his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. The yatra aims to address social issues such as unemployment, price rise, and social justice, portraying it as an ideological journey rather than an electoral one.
In response to the criticism, Congress clarified that the motive behind the yatra is to end the “anyay kaal” (era of injustice) under the Narendra Modi-led government, ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The transformative yatra is set to cover 6,713 km in buses and on foot, passing through 100 Lok Sabha constituencies in 15 states, spanning 110 districts over 67 days. The march is anticipated to conclude in Mumbai on March 20 or 21.