Journeys can be rich in symbolism. Two Indian politicians undertook two different kinds of journeys recently. Rahul Gandhi, who is fighting to keep his place — and his voice — in Parliament, journeyed to Manipur that has been aflame with ethnic clashes. Around the same time, the prime minister, supposedly the tallest leader of the country, was spotted interacting with young students on public transport — in Delhi. Do the embattled people of Manipur not deserve Narendra Modi’s attention and empathy? It seems Mr Gandhi, unlike the prime minister, has been more alert to the need for a healing touch for Manipur. During his visit — there were attempts by the administration to prevent Mr Gandhi from reaching Churachandpur — the Congress leader spoke of the need for peace and unity. There was also an endeavour to project the visit as being apolitical in nature. If Mr Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra is any indication, his presence among the suffering, besieged people could provide a much-needed political fillip to the Congress, which is a diminished force not only in Manipur but also in the Northeast. There is a larger point that must not go ignored. By visiting Manipur, Mr Gandhi demonstrated one of the foundational principles of democracy: a leader must be with the people during their hour of need. This is a lesson that the prime minister seems to have forgotten.

Mr Modi’s amnesia — ineptitude? — seems to be contagious. The Bharatiya Janata Party continues to flounder when it comes to bringing back stability in the state. The evidence is overwhelming. Sporadic killings and arson continue: deaths were reported as recently as Sunday. The fact that the Supreme Court has asked for an updated status report from the state government on the violence in response to a complaint by a tribal outfit alleging inertia on the part of the authorities to threats against the community by militants points to lingering fear and yawning gaps in the arc of protection. The condition of relief camps is also deplorable: a fact-finding team has unearthed this failing. The healing of the state would depend on multiple principal fronts. Express, unprejudiced administrative action to stamp out violence, a representative political process that seeks to address the deep fault lines, and, last but not the least, a humanitarian intervention to provide a healing touch are among them. Mr Gandhi has shown the way in the last aspect.