The News Freedom
New Delhi, January 24
In a tense escalation over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has penned a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah accusing Assam police of jeopardizing the march’s security. This comes just a day after clashes erupted between Congress workers and police at the Guwahati city limits, leading to an FIR against Rahul and party leaders for alleged unlawful assembly and breach of peace.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma condemned and termed the Congress’ tactics as “naxalite” and “alien to Assamese culture. In his post on X formerly known as Twitter, Kharge, however, counters these accusations, painting a starkly different picture in his letter to Shah.
Shri @RahulGandhi and the #BharatJodoNyayYatra has faced serious security issues in Assam in the last few days.
My letter to Home Minister, Shri @AmitShah underlining the same. pic.twitter.com/FHLG5pg5Bz
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) January 24, 2024
He details a series of alleged security lapses throughout the Yatra’s Assam leg, from BJP workers defacing Yatra posters to the brutal assault of the state Congress chief. In sharp contrast to Sarma’s portrayal, Kharge claims the police not only remained passive observers but actively enabled these disruptive actions, putting Mr. Gandhi’s safety at significant risk.
Notably, despite “ample evidence,” Kharge highlights the lack of arrests and inadequate investigations in these incidents. He urges Shah to intervene, asking the Assam Chief Minister and police chief to prioritize the Yatra’s security and prevent further “untoward incidents” that could lead to harm.
The Yatra led by Rahul encountered turmoil in Assam as an FIR was registered against him and fellow Congress leaders. The action was initiated on the directives of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who accused Rahul of instigating party workers to breach barricades.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has instructed the state police to file a case against Rahul Gandhi for allegedly “provoking the crowd” during the ongoing Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, as Congress workers faced obstruction from entering Guwahati.
“These tactics are not part of Assamese culture. We are a peaceful state. Such ‘naxalite tactics’ are completely alien to our culture. I have instructed @DGPAssamPolice to register a case against your leader @RahulGandhi for provoking the crowd & use the footage you have posted on your handles as evidence,” tweeted the Assam CM on X (formerly Twitter).
With reference to wanton acts of violence, provocation , damage to public property and assault on police personnel today by Cong members , a FIR has been registered against Rahul Gandhi, KC Venugopal , Kanhaiya Kumar and other individuals under section…
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (Modi Ka Parivar) (@himantabiswa) January 23, 2024
Siddaramaiah avare,
50,000?
Throughout the 500+ km journey not even 2,000 people came to see him at one place . Please look at the video you have posted and count the number of people.Assam is with Ram and not with Ravana. https://t.co/X6H81eGc3P
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (Modi Ka Parivar) (@himantabiswa) January 23, 2024
प्रमाण सामने आ रहे हैं कि किस प्रकार से राहुल गांधी और जितेंद्र सिंह ने भीड़ को असम पुलिस के जवानों को मारने के लिए भड़काया।
हमारे जवान जनता के सेवक हैं, किसी शाही परिवार के नहीं।
निश्चिंत रहिए, क़ानून के हाथ बहुत लंबे होते हैं, आप तक जरूर पहुंचेंगे। pic.twitter.com/MqW1vyo73V
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (Modi Ka Parivar) (@himantabiswa) January 23, 2024