The Manipur government declined to allow the Congress party to begin its Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Hapta Kangjeibung, Imphal East. When speaking with reporters during a news conference on Wednesday, Congress State President Keisham Meghachandra cited security concerns raised by the state administration.
Meghachandra went on to say, “Chief Minister Biren Singh cited the current unfavourable situation in Manipur as the reason to decline their request to launch the rally.”
The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra was scheduled to begin in Manipur on January 14 and finish on March 20 in Mumbai, representing an east-to-west rally for the party ahead of the 2024 General Elections. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is leading the effort, which would have been marked off by Congress President Malik Arjun Kharge on Sunday.
During a news conference on Tuesday evening, All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary KC Venugopal said that Manipur had been chosen as the rally’s starting point in order to “heal the wounds” of those afflicted by the ethnic violence. He further stated that the state administration has submitted the application to the national government for clearance due to security concerns in the state.
“A week ago, the Congress’s Manipur branch petitioned to the chief secretary for permission. Today, they are informing us that they cannot provide the sanction, and our application has been sent to Delhi for clearance,” he added. he said, “Is it the duty of the central government to give approval to a political party meeting?”
Defending the rally, Venugopal said, “In a democratic system, every political party has the right to hold demonstrations. This Yatra is not even a political programme and is not connected to elections. It is to ask the government to give justice to the poor, the women and the youths of the nation,” he maintained.
The party had submitted its request on January 2, after hearing no response, Meghachandra went to meet with Chief Minister N Biren Singh personally.
In light of the most recent development, Meghachandra stated that the party will launch the event at a private venue.
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