Congress MP Rahul Gandhi visited flood-affected communities in Assam’s Cachar district before heading to strife-torn Manipur later in the day. He arrived in Silchar where he was welcomed by Congress leaders from Assam and Manipur.
From Silchar, Rahul Gandhi proceeded to Fulertal where he engaged with people affected by the floods currently residing in relief camps. This visit marks his first trip to the Northeast since assuming the role of Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
“This camp lies along the route I will take to Manipur’s Jiribam district,” Rahul Gandhi mentioned.
Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Assam coincided with the state grappling with severe floods caused by days of torrential rainfall, resulting in landslides and rivers overflowing, affecting approximately 22.70 lakh people across 28 districts.
#WATCH | Assam: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi visits the Relief Camp at Thalai in Youth Care Center, Fulertal. pic.twitter.com/j4GYDWMnY7
— ANI (@ANI) July 8, 2024
After his visit to Jiribam, Rahul Gandhi will return to Silchar airport in Assam before flying to Imphal for the next phase of his Manipur tour. Since May 3 last year, Manipur has been embroiled in ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities, claiming over 200 lives in clashes.
Meanwhile, a verbal clash erupted between the Congress and BJP regarding Rahul Gandhi’s visits to Manipur and Assam.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for planning a visit to Russia instead of addressing the ongoing crisis in Manipur.
“Today, while the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha heads for Assam and Manipur, the non-biological PM goes to Moscow. Presumably, this Moscow trip will lead to even more bizarre claims,” he tweeted.
“This is Rahul Gandhi’s third visit to Manipur since the state’s crisis erupted fourteen months ago. The non-biological PM has not found the time to visit Manipur even for a few hours since May 3rd, 2023,” he remarked.
In response, BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya accused Rahul Gandhi of engaging in “sick tragedy tourism” and blamed the Congress for the legacy of violence in Manipur.
“The ethnic conflict in Manipur is a Congress party legacy. The state has witnessed decades of civilian, police, and Army personnel killings during Congress’s tenure,” he tweeted.
“In contrast, Rahul Gandhi’s visit is just a desperate attempt. Did any Congress leader, including former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who was a Rajya Sabha member from Assam, visit the strife-torn region?” he questioned.
Meanwhile, in Assam, this year’s floods, landslides, and storms have claimed the lives of 78 people. Several districts including Kamrup, Nagaon, Dhubri, and Golaghat are severely affected, with rivers like the Brahmaputra flowing above danger levels at multiple points.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited flood relief camps in Kamrup district earlier to assess the situation and oversee relief distribution to affected residents.