Tension escalated in Guwahati as about 5,000 Congress workers attempted to enter the city for Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. The Himanta Biswa Sarma-led Assam government denied permission for the yatra to move through key city roads, citing potential traffic disruptions on a working day. The state administration directed the rally to take the national highway route.
Rahul Gandhi, addressing the situation, stated that despite facing barricades, Congress workers would not break the law. He criticized the suppression of people in Assam, alleging canceled student interactions and restrictions on language and history.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma accused Rahul Gandhi of provoking the crowd and instructed the Director General of Police (DGP) to file a case against him based on posted footage. The Congress and BJP engaged in a public spat, with Congress accusing the Assam government of creating hurdles in the yatra.
The face-off follows yesterday’s incident when Rahul Gandhi was barred from visiting the shrine of a 15th-century social reformer. Chief Minister Sarma urged Gandhi not to visit the shrine during the Ram Mandir ‘pran pratistha’ ceremony in Ayodhya, leading to a dharna by Gandhi and his associates at the roadblock site. The Congress leader’s yatra also faced roadblocks in Meghalaya, where an interaction with students was canceled, leading to allegations of interference by the Union Home Minister.