On Thursday, an FIR was registered by police against the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra and the chief organizer K.B Bajpai for allegedly deviating from the permitted route inside Jorhat town in Assam. The march took a different turn instead of going towards the permitted route, and it led to a chaotic situation, said the officials.
Why was FIR registered against the Yatra?
The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra might face turmoil as an FIR was registered alleging that the rally had violated the terms of its permission by taking a different route. The rally was supposed to take a route that went through the city, but instead, it took a route that went through a residential area which caused traffic congestion and disturbance in the public arena, according to the police officials.
Moreover, the FIR alleges that the rally organizers failed to provide adequate security for the participants. However, the main organizer of the yatra K.B Bajpai claimed that the rally was conducted peacefully without causing any disturbance.
Congress’s Response to the FIR
K.B Bajpai, the organizer of the yatra, has strongly denied the allegations and asserted that the rally was conducted peacefully within the boundaries of the law. He has also questioned the timing of the FIR, suggesting that it is politically motivated. The senior leader of Congress Jairam Ramesh said, “The FIR against Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra is a blatant attempt to stifle dissent and intermediate the Congress Party…”
Apart from this, Rahul Gandhi also stated these actions as politically motivated. “The BJP govt is scared of the truth…But we will not be silenced. We will continue to work for the people of India.” Likewise, several leaders from Congress and other opposition parties have expressed concerns that the FIR is an attempt to suppress free speech and dissent. And pointed out the Yatra might face similar legal hurdles in other states as well.
Reaction by Oppositions
The DMK, a key ally of the Congress in Tamil Nadu, condemned the FIR. DMK MP T.R Baalu stated, “This is an attempt to stifle Rahul Gandhi’s voice and stop him from raising important issues facing the country.” Furthermore, the TMC president Mamata Banerjee, expressed it solitary with the yatra and condemned the FIR. TMC MP Saugata Roy said, “The BJP is using the police to muzzle any voice of opposition. This is nothing but political vendetta.”
The AAP chief and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal also criticized the FIR, calling it ‘arbitrary’ and ‘undemocratic’. “The BJP is scared of the popularity of the Yatra and is trying to create hurdles through tactic situations,” he said.
Trap made by BJP?
The FIR was filed against the yatra, just days after it entered Assam, a BJP-ruled state. This timing has led some to be motivated and intended to disrupt the yatra’s progress. The yatra has faced legal hurdles that reinforced the perception that the BJP is using state machinery to target the Congress Party.
Meanwhile, some critics have accused the Assam police of bias against the Congress party. They point to the fact that the police were quick to file an FIR against the Yatra, even though there is no strong evidence related to disruption.
Comments 1