Violence will not solve Manipur's problem: Sonia

With militancy in Manipur showing no signs of abatement, Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Friday said that any problem could be solved only through dialogue and not violence.

Addressing a public meeting at the historic Kangla fort in Imphal, Gandhi said she knew the problems being faced by the people in the state and was concerned about them. She said it was now time to work together for peace and development and every section of society must get the benefits of various developmental programmes being implemented with the help of the Centre.

Gandhi said education should reach all sections of people, particularly the youth, and with an intention of improving education, the Centre had converted the former J N Hospital into Jawahal Lal National Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal. She asked the youths to utilise these facilities to become best doctors.

The UPA chairperson earlier inaugurated Khuga dam, built at a cost of Rs 81 crore, in Churachandpur district and three newly-constructed market complexes in Imphal. She laid the foundation of Indira Gandhi Tribal National University at Makhan in Senapati district. She also congratulated five-time women's world boxing champion Mary Kom, who hails from the state.

Meanwhile, contrary to Gandhi's comment on violence in Imphal, Congress workers in several parts of the country broke out in protests on Friday morning to express their anger against former Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief K S Sudarshan's derogatory remarks about their party chief. While party supporters tried to storm the RSS headquarters in Delhi, effigies of Sudarshan were burnt in Patna and Puducherry.