No state govt nod for venue for starting of 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra': Manipur Congress
Imphal (PTI): The Congress on Wednesday claimed that the Manipur government has declined to give its nod for the venue where the party's 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' is scheduled to begin on January 14.
The party termed the state government's decision as a "violation of people's rights", and said an alternative place to start the proposed march is being considered.
However, no comment from the state government is available.
Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee president Keisham Megachandra said, "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, the chief minister has declined to permit the same."
A Congress delegation met Singh at the CM Secretariat.
The 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' is scheduled to traverse 6,713 km in buses and on foot. It will cover 110 districts, 100 Lok Sabha seats and 337 assembly segments in 66 days.
According to the proposed programme, it will culminate on March 20 in Mumbai.
The Congress has applied to launch the march from Hatta Kangjeibung in Imphal East district.
"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," Keisham said while speaking on the state government's decision.
The MPCC chief's comment comes a day after the chief minister said giving permission to Congress' 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' was under "active consideration" and a decision would be taken after receiving reports from security agencies.
"We will now arrange for an alternative place. Two or three places are being considered as of now. We will begin the march on January 14 as per the schedule," Megachandra said.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, party leader Rahul Gandhi and many others from different parts of the country will come to the state for the programme, he said.
Manipur has been rocked by ethnic violence since May last year and over 180 people were killed.
The violence erupted on May 3 after a Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley, while tribals, which include Nagas and Kukis, constitute 40 per cent and reside mainly in the hill districts.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
