On Wednesday, the Manipur government granted approval for the launch of the Congress’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra from Imphal, with a stipulation of a “limited number” of participants, reversing its initial denial of permission for the event.
Earlier in the day, prior to the approval, the Congress affirmed at a press conference in New Delhi that the yatra would proceed as scheduled. Congress General Secretary K C Venugopal emphasized that the yatra was non-political and mentioned the party’s simultaneous preparations for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The yatra, spanning from Manipur to Maharashtra, is slated to commence on January 14 from the Manipur capital, Imphal.
The directive from the Imphal East District Magistrate’s office specified, “Only the flagging-off of the Yatra with a limited number of participants is hereby allowed on January 14 to prevent any untoward incident and disturbance in law and order. The number and name of the participants shall be provided in advance to this office to enable this office to take up all necessary precautionary measures.”
The order highlighted that the Imphal East DSP reported an anticipated large crowd during the yatra’s opening ceremony, posing potential issues given the prevailing law and order situation in the state. It also noted the enforcement of Section 144 CrPC in the district. Prohibitory orders have been in effect since the ethnic violence erupted in Manipur on May 3, claiming around 185 lives and injuring hundreds.
The Manipur government’s approval came eight days after the Congress sought permission to commence the yatra from the Hapta Kangjeibung ground in Imphal. During the press conference at the AICC headquarters, Venugopal and Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh unveiled a pamphlet and launched a website dedicated to the yatra. The Congress also initiated a ‘Nyay Yodhas’ campaign, allowing individuals to become yatra volunteers by leaving a missed call on a specified phone number.
