PM Interested More In Israel Than Manipur: Rahul Gandhi In Mizoram As Congress Releases List Of 39 Candidates

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited Mizoram on Monday (16 October) to kickstart his party's campaign for the elections scheduled for 7 November.

Targeting Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), he alleged that "they target different communities, religions, languages, and cultures, promoting violence, arrogance, and a lack of understanding. This stance is entirely contrary to the idea of India that we hold dear—one that values respect for all and the protection of everybody."

Currently the poll-bound state is ruled by Mizo National Front (MNF), which is a part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The Congress only managed to secure five out of the 40 seats and finished third behind MNF and the newly formed Zoram Peoples' Movement, which won eight seats in 2018.

Gandhi further targeted BJP saying, "While Congress is developing states and protecting farmers, labourers & MSMEs, the BJP is busy attacking them. GST is designed to harm MSMEs and weaken India's farmers."

"We all know what happened during demonetisation, a completely ridiculous idea brought by the Prime Minister of our country. The economy still hasn't recovered. If you want to understand PM Modi's strategy for developing India's economy, it can be summed up in one word: Adani Everything is designed to benefit one businessman," he added.

Bringing up the issue of Manipur, he said, "It is no longer a state. It has been divided. People have been murdered, women have been molested and babies have been killed, but the Prime Minister doesn't find it important to visit the state. The fact that the leader of our union has not even been to Manipur is something to be ashamed of!"

Targeting the national media, Gandhi said that nobody talks about the pain and misery of the people of Manipur and pointed out that the PM and the Government of India are "highly interested in what is happening in Israel but not interested at all in what is going on in Manipur."

Calling Manipur just a symptom of the problem, he said, "People from minority communities, tribal people, Dalit people feel uncomfortable. There's oppression being carried out on the people of India. I view it as an attack on the idea of India."

Shortly after Gandhi's address, Congress released a list of its 39 candidates. Earlier, Gandhi led a large 'padyatra' (foot march) from Chanmari area to Treasury Square, where he was warmly welcomed by a crowd of Congress supporters and the public.

On Tuesday morning, he will meet with Congress leaders of the state and hold a press conference. Afterward, he will travel to Lunglei to address a public meeting before returning to Delhi via Agartala.

The visit by Gandhi comes in the wake of an agreement signed by the Mizoram Peoples Forum (MPF), an independent body of church elders and members of three prominent organisations, along with political parties. The agreement stipulates that public processions will not be held after the announcement of the poll schedule.

The Mizoram Congress has stated that Gandhi's events will not violate the agreement, according to Hindustan Times.

Local political leaders have identified the boundary dispute between Assam and Mizoram, as well as the increasing influx of drugs into the state, as major issues in the upcoming elections.

Violent clashes erupted at the Assam-Mizoram border in July 2021, resulting in the deaths of five Assam policemen. Despite several rounds of talks, both states have been unable to reach an agreement.