From Shiv Sena to Manipur Student Union, how leaders reacted to Rahul Gandhi's visit

Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday visited Manipur which is raging under violence for almost two months now. Rahul Gandhi's visit comes as the central security forces are trying to restore peace in the northeastern states which is marred by ethnic clashes between Meitei and Kuki communities since 3 May.

With Rahul Gandhi's visit the political heat also rose especially as the Congress leader was stopped by Manipur police while he was en route to violence hit Churachandpur and planned to meet people in relief camps, displaced by the violence.

Here are some reactions to Rahul Gandhi's visit to Manipur

The visit by Rahul Gandhi evoked reactions from the leaders of various political parties with Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut saying that it is a good thing. “It's a good thing that Rahul Gandhi is going to Manipur. Union HM went there but nothing happened. PM has not said even a word about Manipur till now. The situation in Manipur is deteriorating as China is involved in it,” Sanjay Raut told news agency ANI.

Congress was excited about the visit of Rahul Gandhi with AICC Incharge North East Ajoy Kumar affirming that Rahul Gandhi and the party have always been raising the issue of violence in Manipur. He added that the government should take lessons from Rahul Gandhi.

"...Rahul Gandhi and Congress party has always been raising the Manipur issue. Rahul Gandhi believes that the country needs to know the situation of Manipur. There is total law and order failure in the state right now. The double-engine govt has become the triple problem govt. Rahul Gandhi will be meeting the people of the state and I think the govt should take a lesson, after this visit," he said.

Catch Rahul Gandhi's Manipur visit LIVE updates here

On the occasion of Rahul Gandhi's visit, the All Manipur Students Union expressed their views and said the current situation in Manipur is a result of the political blunders committed by successive governments that have ruled Manipur, and the Congress party has a big role to play in that.

"...We believe that the current situation in Manipur is a result of the political blunders committed by successive governments that have ruled Manipur and the Congress party has a big role to play in that. In 2012, the Congress party deleted four Gram Panchayats and one Zila Parishad constituency which were part of the Imphal West district from the Manipur Panchayati Raj system and they were allotted to come under the autonomous district council of Kangopi district. It had further enhanced the dreamland of Kuki nation state..." ANI qouted the Secretary General of All Manipur Students Union.

Rahul Gandhi's convoy stopped

The politics around the visit of Rahul Gandhi was exacerbated after Manipur police stopped his convoy with Congress alleging that the ruling BJP is politicizing his visit. “Rahul Gandhi was going to meet the victims of Manipur violence. The BJP government stopped them on the way by deploying the police. Rahul ji has gone to Manipur with the message of peace. The people in power have a strong hatred for peace, love, and brotherhood. But they should remember... This country will run on the path of Gandhi, this country will run on the path of love," the Congress tweeted.

BJP responded to the allegations and claimed that Rahul Gandhi should be aware of the ground realities in Manipur. "It is sad that Rahul Gandhi has gone to Manipur with stubbornness, which is not right. He should have been aware of the ground realities before going there. Sensitivity is far more important than stubbornness. We are a democratic country", BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said in a briefing.