Page 8 - The Indiane EYE 070723

NATION JULY 07, 2023 | The Indian Eye 8

War of words breaks out

between Congress and BJP as

Rahul Gandhi lands in Manipur

Police use several rounds of tear gas shells to stop and disperse a crowd that gathers near

the regional office of BJP in Imphal in Manipur on Thursday

OUR BUREAU
Imphal/New Delhi

ahul Gandhi landed in Imphal
earlier on Thursday but he
Rwas forced to make his way
back to the State capital a short while
later after local police prevented his
carcade from proceeding to Chura-
chandpur, where the Congress leader
was headed to meet with victims of
ethnic violence.
The Congress leader’s convoy was
stopped at a checkpost near Bishnu-
pur, which is about 20 kilometres from
Imphal. Police, party workers and lo-
cals staged a protest and later, police
used tear gas to disperse the crowd.
“Seeing the ongoing situation in
the State, we have stopped the VIPs
from proceeding. They can go to plac-
es wherever they want by helicopter.
If the police actions have been taken
otherwise, it is not our problem,” a
police official said.
K Meghachandra, Manipur
Pradesh Congress Committee Presi- Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with party General Secretary incharge (Organization) KC Venugopal and Manipur Congress Chief Keisham
dent has accused the Manipur govern- Meghachandra Singh as his convoy was stopped by the police, in Bishnupur on Thursday (ANI)
ment of “politicizing” Rahul Gandhi’s
visit to the state.
Ethnic clashes broke out in Ma- any expectations from Union Home 2015, which were seen by the people lice used several rounds of tear gas
nipur nearly two months ago on May Minister Amit Shah and chief minister of Churachandpur district, compris- shells to stop and disperse them.
3 after clashes erupted during a rally N Biren Singh. There is a complete ing mostly of Paites and Kukis, as Visuals from the spot showed po-
organized by the All-Tribal Students failure of law and order.” BJP has how- ‘anti-Tribal’, and a ‘conspiracy’ by the lice using tear gas shells to disperse
Union (ATSU) to protest against the ever said that the visit by the Congress majority Meitei community to grab the crowd.
demand for the inclusion of Meiteis leader is merely political opportunism. Tribal land,” the tweet read. Manipur Chief Minister N Bi-
in the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs). But BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya Malviya said that nine young ren Singh met Union Home Minister
Manipur Pradesh Congress Pres- in a tweet said that Rahul Gandhi is “no men were shot dead and the protest- Amit Shah on Sunday in Delhi and
ident on Thursday said there was messiah of peace just a political oppor- ing communities refused to cremate expressed his government’s commit-
complete failure of the law and order tunist, who wants to keep the pot boiling.” them for two long years. “Why didn’t ment to maintaining peace and re-
in the State where normalcy has not “Not once did Rahul Gandhi visit Rahul Gandhi visit Manipur then? storing normalcy in the state. Singh
yet been restored and pointed that Churachandpur in Manipur between He is no messiah of peace just a politi- briefed the Home Minister on the
the “double-engine government has 2015-17, to meet the victims of ethnic cal opportunist who wants to keep the situation in Manipur.
become the triple-problem.” violence, that raged following Con- pot boiling. His visit to Manipur is not The Centre also held an all-party
Keisham Meghachandra Singh, gress CM Okram Ibobi Singh Govt’s borne out of concern for people but meeting on the Manipur situation on
President of Manipur Pradesh Con- decision to pass three Bills - the Pro- his own selfish political agenda. There Saturday.
gress, said: “The present situation is tection of Manipur People’s Bill, 2015, is a reason no one trusts either him or The state has been seeing sporad-
that normalcy has still not been estab- Manipur Land Revenue and Land the Congress,” Malviya alleged. ic incidents of violence. Amit Shah
lished in Manipur. The double-engine Reforms (Seventh Amendment) Bill, Meanwhile, a crowd gathered visited the state following ethnic vio-
government has not been able to con- 2015, and Manipur Shops and Estab- near the regional office of BJP in lence and announced a series of mea-
trol the situation here. We do not have lishments (Second Amendment) Bill, Imphal in Manipur on Thursday. Po- sures for restoring peace.

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