Imphal: Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday visited several areas of Manipur and interacted with the people residing in relief camps and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to spare a day or two, for the people of violence hit northeastern state as it will restore the faith and confidence.
Rahul Gandhi during his third visit to the state, where violence erupted on May 3 last year met the victim families residing in the relief camps and also met Governor Ansuiya Uikey.
While addressing a press conference here, the newly appointed Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said that he was expecting the situation to have improved but regretted, there was no improvement.
“It’s the third time I’ve come to Manipur since the violence broke out. I was expecting some improvement in the situation but I was quite disappointed to see that the situation is still nowhere near what it should be,” he said after visiting some of the camps and meeting the displaced people there.
He said that he visited camps and heard people here.
“I came here to listen them, to build confidence in them, as somebody who is in Opposition, to try and apply pressure on government so that it acts. I have come here as your brother, as somebody who wants to help ypu bring back peace in Manipur,” Rahul Gandhi said
Rahul Gandhi, who is also the Lok Sabha MP from Uttar Pradesh’s Rae Bareli offered his party’s full support for anything that will help in “restoring peace and harmony in Manipur”.
He appealed to the Prime Minister that he should come here (to Manipur) and listen to the pain and tragedy of the people.
“The Prime Minister should have visited Manipur long before as it needs him to come here and listen to their pain and tragedy,” he said, while observing, “it will restore confidence of the people of Manipur”.
“In this huge tragedy I request the Prime Minister to take one day or two days from his time and it will comfort the people of Manipur”, he said adding, “we are ready to support anything that will improve the situation in Manipur”.
“I feel that it is important that PM Modi should come here, listen to people of Manipur, try and understand what’s going on in the State. After all Manipur is a proud state of the country, and it’s very important that the Prime Minister comes here. Even if it wasn’t a tragedy, he should come here,” he said.
Rahul Gandhi said he had come here as “a brother and family member” of the people and not to politicise the situation.
“Entire Manipur is in pain and suffering and it needs to come out of this pain,” he said, while appealing to everyone to think of peace, harmony and brotherhood.
“Violence and hatred are not going to lead anywhere,” Rahul Gandhi said.
During his meeting with Manipur Governor, he expressed his displeasure to her saying the Congress was not happy over the situation in the state but added that the party would like to help in whatever way it can.
Rahul Gandhi was accompanied by party general secretary KC Venugopal, former Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and others.
