Kohima: Confusion prevails over the proposed visit of AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi to Nagaland as the state youth Congress confirmed his visit on Monday next, while Indian Youth Congress (IYC) affirmed that he would visit Nagaland and Manipur in November.
State Congress sources said the venue of the Gandhi scion’s visit had been shifted from Nagaland University at Lumami under Zunheboto district to St. Joseph’s College, Jakahama under Kohima district following stiff opposition by the North East Students’ Organization (NESO) and Naga Students Federation to the proposed visit.
NESO sources said during Rahul’s last visit to Meghalaya educational institute, he had only asked the students to join the Congress party and feared he would do a repeat act in Nagaland.
Sources pointed out that his visit to the state is non-political, but since the student bodies had opposed it due to certain apprehension, the venue had been changed in respect of the sentiment of the student bodies. Sources also confirmed that Rahul’s visit had been fixed for October 17 and it would be a brief stopover while en-route to Imphal. He would arrive by chopper and after interacting with students, he would leave for Imphal the same day. The IYC has rubbished the reports of Rahul Gandhi visiting Nagaland and Manipur in October and said he was likely to visit these states sometime next month once the organizational elections for the IYC and NSUI are announced in the two states.
Meanwhile, the All Sumi Students’ Union (SKK), welcoming Rahul Gandhi’s proposed visit to NU (Lumami), has said it visited Lumami to get a first hand information after it learned about opposition to Rahul’s proposed visit to the Nagaland University (NU). SKK president Nihoyi Kinnimi said during the course of their visit, they learnt that the ‘main persons’ behind the entire issue of opposing Rahul’s visit were ‘high ranking officials’ of NU Lumami.
The SKK cautioned the ‘officials’ to stop politicizing and playing divisive politics. (UNI)