NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for prioritizing Israel over Manipur, a region grappling with ethnic conflicts since May this year.
Speaking at a rally near Raj Bhavan in Aizawl after completing a 2-kilometer padayatra through the city's streets, Gandhi pointed out that Manipur is no longer a unified entity but has been divided along ethnic lines.
During his two-day visit to Mizoram, which is gearing up for elections, Gandhi emphasized that the Congress had successfully brought peace to the insurgency-affected northeastern state by signing a peace accord in 1986.
Gandhi expressed his amazement that the government, led by the Prime Minister, showed a keen interest in events unfolding in Israel, such as the Israel-Hamas conflict, while seemingly neglecting the issues in Manipur, where there have been reports of murders, sexual assaults against women, and even the deaths of infants.
He went on to discuss the core principles of India, which include mutual respect, tolerance, the exchange of ideas, learning from diverse religions and languages, and a sense of unity. According to Gandhi, these principles are currently under threat from the BJP, which he accused of targeting various communities, religions, and languages. He stated that the BJP is responsible for spreading hatred, violence, arrogance, and a lack of understanding, which contradicts the fundamental values of India.
The upcoming elections for the 40-member Mizoram Assembly are slated for November 7.
(With inputs from agencies)