Visit Manipur, listen to those hit by violence: Rahul Gandhi to PM Narendra Modi

Shubhadeep Choudhury

New Delhi, July 8

Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Monday appealed to PM Narendra Modi to visit Manipur, saying it would help restore peace in the state, which had been reeling under ethnic violence for over a year now.

The PM has so far not visited the state ever since violence between the majority Meitei and minority Kuki tribal communities broke out in May last year.

On his third trip to Manipur since June last year, Rahul told reporters in Imphal that a visit by the PM would be extremely beneficial for the state. “He (the PM) should listen to the people (of Manipur) and hear from them the stories of their pain and suffering. It will boost their confidence,” he said, adding the Congress was ready to support any initiative taken to restore normalcy in the state.

“I request the PM to come to Manipur. He is the PM of the country and Manipur is one of its proud states. The PM should have come here long back,” Rahul said.

The Congress leader landed in Silchar in Assam this morning and first visited displaced victims of the ethnic riots staying in Fulertal in Assam bordering Manipur and then visited a relief camp in Jiribam. Manipur.

He then went back to Silchar and flew to Imphal and visited a relief camp housing Kuki refugees at Churachandpur and another camp in Moirang.