Need for peace in Manipur, lack of essentials in relief camps: Rahul Gandhi
Imphal (IANS). Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said Manipur needed peace and there was acute shortage of medicines and other essentials in the relief camps.
He said that the government should take immediate action to overcome these crises.
The Congress leader, who is on a two-day visit to violence-hit Manipur, met Governor Anusuiya Uikey at the Raj Bhavan on Friday. He was accompanied by Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal and AICC in-charge of several northeastern states Ajoy Kumar were also there.
After meeting the Governor, Rahul Gandhi said that he and his party would do everything possible to restore peace and normalcy in the state.
Rahul Gandhi told the media in front of the Raj Bhavan, “I want peace to be restored first. I visited some relief camps and met the affected people. There is a shortage of medicines and other essentials in these relief camps, the government should step in.”
The former Congress president said violence will not yield any results.
“I appeal to all people, all communities and leaders to restore peace and normalcy in Manipur,” he said.
He later tweeted, “I share the pain of the people of Manipur. This is a terrible tragedy. It is extremely sad and painful for all the people of Manipur and also for the people of India. I went to the camps and met people from all communities. One thing I would say to the government is that there is a need for basic facilities in the camps. Food and medicine should be supplied. Such complaints have come from the camps.
“I would appeal to everyone in Manipur that we need peace. I strongly appeal to all that no one will get anything from violence. Peace is the way forward and everyone should now talk about peace and start moving towards it.”
“I will do all I can to bring peace to the state. I love all the people of Manipur.”
A day after being stopped by a large contingent of Manipur police, the Congress leader on Friday visited relief camps at Moirang in Bishnupur district, where he met people affected by caste violence.
Manipur Pradesh Congress President Keesham Meghchandra Singh said Rahul went to Moirang in a helicopter and after returning to Imphal, he would meet 10 like-minded party leaders and members of civil society organisations.
He will also interact with United Naga Council (UNC) leaders, influential women’s bodies, prominent citizens and intellectuals.
Earlier on Thursday too, the senior Congress leader visited relief camps in Churachandpur and Imphal West districts where displaced people have taken shelter in the wake of the violence.
So far 120 people have died in the violence that began on May 3, with over 400 injured. Houses of a large number of people have been burnt, properties have been looted.
“In both the districts, Rahul Gandhi patiently listened to the grievances of the people,” Singh told the media. He said the Congress leader had dinner at the relief camp in Imphal.
Earlier, when Rahul Gandhi was going to Bishnupur by road on Thursday, his convoy was stopped about 20 km from Imphal by the police citing law and order issues.
Women raising slogans in front of Bishnupur police station to allow Rahul Gandhi to meet violence-affected people. Police fired tear gas shells to disperse the women.
