Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday came out in support of her brother and former party chief Rahul Gandhi after the latter's convoy was stopped in Manipur, saying he has gone to Manipur to share the pain of the people there and to convey the message of peace, adding that the BJP government should do the same.
In a tweet in Hindi, the Congress leader said, "It is the duty of every patriot to try and work for peace and harmony. Rahul Gandhi has gone to Manipur to share the pain of the people there and to convey the message of peace. The BJP government should also do the same. Why does the government want to stop Rahul Gandhi from going there?"
Meanwhile, addressing the media at the party headquarters here, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate hit out at the BJP governments in Manipur and at the Centre.
She said: "Come what may, Rahul Gandhi will visit the affected areas and meet the affected people."
Targeting the government, she said, "It is Prime Minister Narendra Modi who should be visiting Manipur, which has been burning for the last two months. Instead, his government is preventing leaders like Rahul Gandhi, who wants to provide a healing touch and wipe the tears of people affected by the violence in Manipur."
Taking a swipe at the Prime Minister, Shrinate said, "Modiji had all the time to campaign and review party programmes like 'Mera Booth Sabse Majboot', but he had no time for Manipur."
No appeal from PM
Questioning the silence of the Prime Minister on the Manipur issue, she said, "Even after two months, the Prime Minister has not condemned the violence in Manipur, nor has he appealed for peace."
She added, "No matter how much the double-engine troublesome government may try to stop Rahul Gandhi, history is witness to the fact that he (Rahul Gandhi) has reached all those places he resolved to visit, be it Hathras or Lakhimpur Kheri, despite being prevented by the administration.
Rahul Gandhi is on a two-day visit to Manipur to meet the affected families taking shelter in the relief camps. His convoy was stopped in Churachandpur. He had reached Imphal on Thursday morning along with party General Secretary K.C. Venugopal.
(With inputs from IANS)
