'I Hope Peace Returns..': Rahul Gandhi Criticises PM Modi For 'Not Visiting Violence-Hit Manipur'

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Modi for not visiting the violence-ridden Manipur. He also promised to raise the issue of the PM's absence in the upcoming budget session while addressing a gathering in the ethnic violence-hit state on the second day of his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. The Congress leader also revealed the reason behind choosing Manipur as the party's choice to launch the Yatra.

"We wanted to do another yatra from east to west and we decided that the most powerful thing would be to start the yatra from Manipur so that the people of India get a sense of what the people of Manipur have been through, the difficulty that they have been through, the struggles they have been through," the Congress leader said, however, adding that "the government of India doesn't seem to be bothered and the Prime Minister has not visited the state".

"I understand that you have faced a tragedy, you have lost family members, you have lost property and I want you to know that we are fully standing with you, we want to bring peace back to Manipur. We want to make Manipur peaceful and harmonious again," Gandhi said.

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Rahul also said that he was apprised of the happenings in the state by the senior state leadership of the party.

"I hope peace returns to Manipur as soon as possible," he added.

Congress Defended Ram Mandir Invitation Decline

During the 'Yatra', Congress leadership also tried to defend the decision to decline the Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha ceremony invitation, saying that it is not against temples or religion but the BJP has turned the consecration into a political event. The second day of the Yatra ended with Gandhi and other Congress leaders crossing over to Nagaland for a night halt at the campsite in Khuzama ground.