Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra has resumed its trip and is scheduled to re-enter Assam on Tuesday. As a result, heightened security has been imposed at Khanapara Area, the entrance point of Guwahati. Today, Rahul Gandhi’s Yatra is scheduled to pass through the Khanapara Area, where there has been considerable police presence and barricading.
The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra is currently experiencing tension between Congress leaders and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma over allegations that he is putting up obstacles in the way of the pilgrimage. The yatra will resume today at 1:20 PM and will stop at Bishnupur in Assam.
Rahul Gandhi, the Wayanad-born MP and head of the Congress, ran into difficulties on Monday when he was stopped by the police from conducting a foot march and a gathering on a street corner in the Morigaon area. The District Magistrate’s office refused permission for Rahul Gandhi’s scheduled engagements citing “intelligence inputs” indicating a possible danger to “peace and tranquillity”.
Concurrently, the Congress Committee of Nagaland Pradesh conducted a protest rally at Congress Bhavan in Kohima, condemning the purported violent activities against the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra convoy in Assam.
Rahul Gandhi and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma have been engaged in a verbal sparring match over the last several days. In response to Rahul Gandhi’s attacks on him in Nagaon, the chief minister of Assam had earlier said, “Why are you talking about Ravan today? At the very least, discuss Ram today. It is now possible for us to discuss Ram after 500 years. We need to limit our conversation to him and leave Ravan out.”