NEW DELHI: The Manipur government on Wednesday declined to give permission for the Imphal East venue for the Congress party’s ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra‘. The Rahul Gandhi-led yatra is scheduled to begin on January 14.
Calling it ‘unfortunate’, Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Keisham Megachandra said that the state government’s decision is a “violation of people’s rights”.
“We met chief minister N Biren Singh and sought permission for the venue of ‘Bharat Joro Nyay Yatra’ at Hatta Kangjeibung in Imphal East district from where the rally is scheduled to be flagged off. However, he has declined to permit the same,” Keisham said.
“It is very unfortunate. It is a murder of democracy and a violation of people’s rights. The proposed venue is also a public ground,” he added.
The ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’ is scheduled to traverse 6,713km in buses and on foot. It will cover 110 districts, 100 Lok Sabha seats and 337 assembly segments over a period of 66 days. It will culminate on March 20 in Mumbai.
Violence erupted in Manipur on May 3, 2023 after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.