Urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit violence-hit Manipur, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said that the recent string of violent clashes and continuing bloodshed in Manipur is deeply disturbing.

The former Congress chief urged the Prime Minister to work towards restoring peace and healing in the Valley.  

“After more than a year of division and suffering, it was the hope of every Indian that the Central and State governments would have made every effort at reconciliation and found a solution,” Gandhi said in a post on X.

On Friday night, three bodies, believed to belong to six individuals who had gone missing from the Jiribam district, were found near the confluence of the Jiri and Barak rivers along the Manipur-Assam border.

Following the development, the residences of two Ministers and three MLAs were attacked by protesters in Manipur’s Imphal on Saturday. The protesters were seeking justice for the murder of three persons in the Jiribam district.

In view of the situation, the government suspended internet services in seven districts, and a curfew was imposed. A mob also attacked the residence of Health and Family Welfare Minister Sapam Ranjan in the Lamphel Sanakeithel area.

In the Sagolband area, agitators gathered outside the residence of BJP legislator RK Imo, who is also the son-in-law of Chief Minister N Biren Singh, expressing demands for an appropriate response from the government regarding the killings and urging authorities to arrest the culprits within 24 hours.

The protesters who went to meet with independent legislator Sapam Nishikanta Singh at his residence on Tiddim Road vandalised the office of a local newspaper owned by him after knowing he was out of state. The mob reportedly destroyed several temporary structures in front of the office.

Imphal West, Imphal East, Bishnupur, Thoubal, Kakching, Kangpokpi and Churachandpur were the districts where the internet services were suspended for two days, as per the reports.

Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot resigned from the Aam Aadmi Party on Sunday, citing recent controversies facing the party and unfulfilled promises.  

In his resignation letter to Chief Minister Atishi, Gahlot, the MLA from Najafgarh, tendered his resignation from the Council of Ministers with immediate effect.

In a separate letter to AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal, Gahlot also tendered his resignation from the primary membership of the party.

Gahlot claimed the party was facing embarrassing and awkward controversies such as ‘Sheshmahal’, a reference to Kejriwal’s former residence.

Gahlot, a prominent AAP leader, alleged that instead of fighting for the rights of the people, the AAP was busy fighting for its own agenda which has crippled delivery of basic services in Delhi.

On the resignation of Gahlot, senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh alleged that his resignation is a part of BJP’s dirty politics and conspiracy. “BJP government conducted ED raids on him. Income Tax raids were conducted at his residence for several days. BJP put an allegation of Rs 112 crores on him. Pressure was created on him due to which Kailash Gahlot had to take this step. He did not have any option other than joining BJP,” he added.

AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar said: “Two of their (BJP) big leaders are joining us today. Since there are elections, all this will keep happening. Elections are underway and the conspiracies of BJP have started.”

Meanwhile, BJP leader Nalin Kohli said, “In his resignation letter, Kailash Gehlot has raised some serious issues. He is pointing out that the situation of pollution in the Yamuna has only worsened under the AAP and its so-called governance model When their accountability is questioned, they immediately start making excuses and deflect from the point. There is a huge difference between what they promised and what they’ve done.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Nigeria on Sunday as part of his three-nation tour at the invitation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This marks the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Nigeria in 17 years.

Upon his arrival in Abuja, he received a warm welcome from the Minister for Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, who presented Modi with the “Key to the City” of Abuja, symbolizing the trust and honor bestowed upon him by the Nigerian people.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Abuja, Nigeria. Warmly welcomed by Minister for Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, who presented the prime minister with the ‘Key to the City’ of Abuja. The key symbolises the trust and honour bestowed on the prime minister by the people of Nigeria,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a late-night post on X.

This visit is Modi’s inaugural trip to the West African region. He is set to spend five days in Nigeria, Brazil, and Guyana before moving on to Brazil after Nigeria.

In his departure remarks, Modi expressed his eagerness to engage with the Indian community and friends in Nigeria who have extended warm welcome messages in Hindi. He affirmed that this visit presents an opportunity to strengthen the strategic partnership based on shared beliefs in democracy and pluralism.

“I am also eagerly looking forward to meeting the Indian community and friends from Nigeria who have sent me warm welcome messages in Hindi.” Modi also said it would be an opportunity to “build upon our strategic partnership that is based on shared belief in democracy and pluralism,” PM Modi said.

In Brazil, he will participate in the 19th G20 Summit as part of the Troika, alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden, taking place in Rio de Janeiro on November 18-19. India is a member of the G20 Troika along with Brazil and South Africa.

The trip will conclude with Modi’s visit to Guyana from November 19 to 21, which will be the first visit by an Indian prime minister to Guyana in over 50 years, at the invitation of President Mohamed Irfaan Ali.