Tension has gripped Guwahati limits as about 5,000 Congress workers try to enter the city to continue the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. A huge contingent of state police is on the spot to prevent the Congress rally from hitting Guwahati roads.
The Himanta Biswa Sarma government in Assam earlier denied permission to the Yatra to move through arterial roads in Guwahati. Arguing that it is a working day in Guwahati and allowing the yatra to move through key city roads may lead to traffic snarls, the state administration asked the rally to take the national highway route as it moves towards lower Assam. Congress workers were asked to take the National Highway 27 that acts like a ring road around the city.
The Congress workers part of the march alleged that the state administration has denied entry into the city on frivolous grounds. This comes amid an ongoing spat between the Congress and the BJP government in Assam. The Congress has alleged that the Himanta Biswa Sarma government is creating hurdles in the yatra led by Mr Gandhi. “Since our entry in Assam, the most corrupt CM in India has been carrying out relentless attacks on our convoys, properties and leaders using his goons,” it has said.
Today’s face-off near the Guwahati city limits follows dramatic scenes yesterday, when Mr Gandhi was barred from visiting the shrine of a 15th century social reformer. Mr Gandhi had planned to visit the birthplace of Vaishnav saint Srimanta Sankardeva near Guwahati. Soon after the plan was announced, Chief Minister Sarma urged Mr Gandhi not to visit the shrine before the Ram Mandir ‘pran pratistha’ ceremony in Ayodhya ends.
“I urge Rahul Gandhi to not create a notion that there is a competition between Ram Temple and Batadrava Satra because the TV channels will be flashing Ram Temple Pran Pratishtha ceremony on one side and him visiting Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardeva’s birthplace on the other side. This won’t be good for Assam.” Mr Sarma said.
The shrine’s managing committee, too, said Mr Gandhi will not be allowed to enter before 3 pm.
The Congress leader and his associates were stopped on their way to the shrine. Thereafter, they sat on a dharna at the site of the roadblock. Party MP Gaurav Gogoi and Batadrava MLA Sibamoni Bora proceeded to the shrine and offered prayers.
Speaking to the media later, Mr Gandhi said he believes in the philosophy of Sankardeva. “We, like him, believe in bringing people together and not spreading hatred. He is like a guru to us and gives us direction. So I had thought when I came to Assam, I should offer my respects to him,” he said. ‘Gaurav Gogoi and all can go, but only Rahul Gandhi cannot go. I don’t know, there may be some reason, but I will go to Batadrava when I get an opportunity,” he added.
The Congress alleged that the shrine’s managing committee had earlier agreed on Mr Gandhi’s visit but later changed its position.
Mr Gandhi’s yatra also faced roadblocks in the Meghalaya leg of the yatra. An interaction between the Congress leader and students at a university in Meghalaya was cancelled after the local authorities denied permission. Mr Gandhi later addressed students from atop the yatra truck near the Assam-Meghalaya border. During his address, he alleged that his interaction with the students at the university was cancelled on the instructions of the Union Home Minister.