rahul-welcomes-pm-s-manipur-visit-reiterates-vote-theft-claims

Rahul Gandhi, known for his sharp critiques of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Friday appeared to break the pattern by welcoming the PM’s upcoming visit to Manipur, noting the long-standing unrest in the state. Speaking to reporters in Junagadh, Gujarat, he said, "The issue in Manipur has been ongoing for a long time. It is good that he is going there now."

The Prime Minister is slated to visit Manipur on September 13, alongside Mizoram, where he will inaugurate the Bairabi–Sairang railway line project. The visit comes amid heightened expectations for government attention to the state’s prolonged turbulence and infrastructural needs.

 

Reiterating his earlier allegations of "vote theft", Gandhi again criticised the conduct of the Haryana and Maharashtra Assembly elections. "But the main issue in the country is that of 'Vote Chori'. The election mandates in Haryana and Maharashtra were stolen. People everywhere are saying 'Vote Chor'," he said.

 

Earlier, Congress General Secretary in-charge of Communications Jairam Ramesh had expressed scepticism over the Prime Minister’s planned visit to Manipur. In a post on X, he shared a newspaper clipping about the preparations and suggested the trip might be too brief to achieve meaningful engagement.

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"The proposed visit of the Prime Minister to Manipur on Sept 13 is being hailed by his cheerleaders. But it appears that he will be spending just about 3 hours, yes, just 3 hours, in the state. What does he hope to accomplish by such a rushed trip?" Ramesh wrote.

 

"This is actually an insult to the people of the state who have waited for him for 29 long and agonising months. Sept 13th will actually be a non-visit by the PM, who has once again revealed his callousness and insensitivity towards the people of Manipur," he added.

 

The visit to Manipur follows broader engagements by the Prime Minister in the Northeast, including inaugurations and foundation stone ceremonies for major infrastructure projects across Mizoram, Assam, West Bengal, and Bihar.