National Desk, 29 June: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has returned to Imphal after his two-day visit to Manipur was disrupted after a mob stopped his convoy near the Bishnupur police station.
The incident raised concerns about the role of government in restricting Gandhi to visit relief camps and speak with members of the civil society.
Confusion and worries have been expressed by Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal in the wake of the convoy carrying party leader Rahul Gandhi’s unexpected halt.
The police reportedly stated that they are not in a “position” to permit the leaders to proceed, according to Congress General Secretary K C Venugopal.
“Rahul Gandhi’s convoy has been stopped by police near Bishnupur. Police say that they are not in a position to allow us. People are standing on both sides of the road to wave to Rahul Gandhi. We are not able to understand why have they stopped us” Venugopal said.
Gandhi would meet with members of the civil society during his tour and Venugopal had already stated that he would also stop by relief facilities in Churachandpur and Imphal, two of the State’s most violently affected cities.
The Manipur Police justified stopping Rahul Gandhi’s convoy by citing security concerns. According to the police superintendent of Bishnupur, his convoy can be misconstrued for a cavalcade of “attackers.”
“Rahul Gandhi cannot be allowed to go ahead. We are worried about his security,” said the SP of Bishnupur. “There was arson and the situation was worse last night as well. Rahul Gandhi’s cavalcade could be mistaken as that of attackers’ in Churachandpur,” the police official said.
The Congress has been vociferous against the violence ever since it started. Sonia Gandhi, the leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party called for peace and harmony in Manipur saying that the state’s history-making violence has “left a deep wound in the conscience of our nation” and has wrecked people’s lives there.
According to Ajoy Kumar, AICC Incharge for the North East, the state currently experiences complete “failure” in terms of law and order.
“Rahul Gandhi and Congress party has always been raising the Manipur issue. Rahul Gandhi believes that the country needs to know the situation of Manipur. There is total law and order failure in the state right now. The double-engine government has become the triple problem government. Rahul Gandhi will be meeting the people of the state and I think the government should take a lesson, after this visit,” Kumar said.
On the other hand, Rahul Gandhi was criticised by the BJP for visiting Manipur, calling him a “political opportunist who wants to keep the pot boiling.”