Manipur: Rahul Gandhi stuck for hours at Bishnupur after police stop convoy fearing attack

Imphal: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's convoy remained stuck at Bishnupur for hours after his convoy was stopped by the Manipur police, amid allegations by the party that the BJP-led government is trying to thwart the leader's visit to the ethnic strife-torn state.

The BJP, on the other hand, claimed that Gandhi was asked to take a chopper as his trip was opposed by various quarters but he was "stubborn" to travel by road route.

Gandhi's convoy which was travelling to Churachandpur to visit relief camps in the area, was stopped by the police at Bishnupur, about 20 kilometres from the state capital. He had earlier in the day landed at Imphal from Delhi. Police officials said the convoy was stopped fearing violence along the route.

“There is a security threat. We cannot take the risk of allowing Rahul Gandhi to proceed,” a senior police official said.

The Congress, however, alleged that the BJP governments at the Centre and the state are using "autocratic methods" to stall the visit of Gandhi.

The "double-engine disastrous governments are using autocratic methods to stall a compassionate outreach by Shri Rahul Gandhi. This is totally unacceptable and shatters all constitutional and democratic norms," Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge tweeted.

"He is going there to meet the people suffering in relief camps and to provide a healing touch in the strife-torn state," he said.

The party's state president Keisham Meghachandra alleged that the order to stop Gandhi's convoy came from Chief Minister N Biren Singh as "everyone was welcoming him".

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said Gandhi's two-day visit to Manipur is in the spirit of the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

Ramesh said in a tweet: "The Prime Minister may choose to remain silent or be inactive but why stop Rahul Gandhi's efforts to listen to all sections of the Manipuri society and provide a healing touch?" The BJP, however, wondered why Gandhi did not take a chopper to visit Churachandpur.

"Rahul Gandhi’s Manipur visit was vehemently opposed by many Civil Society Organisations & Student Unions in Manipur. Keeping this in mind the administration requested Rahul Gandhi to take helicopter to Churachandpur.

"Looking into the sensitive situation to “Understand” is more important than being “Stubborn” for petty political gains," BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra said.

Police sources said tyres were burnt on the highway near Utlou village in Bishnupur district and a few stones were thrown at the convoy.

"We fear a repetition of such events and hence as a precaution, requested the convoy to halt at Bishnupur," a police officer told PTI.

More than 100 people have lost their lives in the ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki communities in the northeastern state so far.

Clashes first broke out on May 3 after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals -- Nagas and Kukis -- constitute another 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hill districts.