On Monday, the Morigaon district commissioner asked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to abstain from holding street-corner meetings and padayatra, citing concerns about law and order. Besides, Gandhi was also stopped from visiting the Batadrava Than temple in Assam.
Why was Rahul Gandhi stopped?
The Morigaon district administration denied permission for a street-corner meeting and padayatra, stating the potential risk to peace and tranquillity for trying to disrupt the event. The Congress party claims the restrictions are politically motivated. They accuse the Assam government, led by the BJP, of trying to restrict Gandhi’s political campaign ahead of the 2024 election.
Moreover, Gandhi’s planned visit to the Batadrava Than temple, the birthplace of Vaishnav Saint Srimanta Sankardeva, where he faced resistance. Meanwhile, he had permission, but the timing coincided with the Ram temple consecration in Ayodhya. The sattra (temple management) requested him to defer his visit due to sensitive religious events and potential logistical challenges, which led to the protest by the party leaders.
Gandhi and Congress leader’s protest
Gandhi and other Congress leaders staged a dharna (protest) in Nagaon, Assam to protest the restrictions on his yatra. Both Gandhi and the party leaders felt that the district administration’s reason for denying permission was to suppress their political activity. The denial of access to the temple, despite having permission, further fueled their perception of being targeted and silenced.
Besides this, he said, “This is strange as there is a law-and-order situation in the area…all can go but only Rahul Gandhi cannot go.” The protest aimed to draw attention to what the Congress viewed as the BJP government’s attempt to hinder the campaign, which gained significant coverage, highlighting the ongoing political controversy in the state and raising questions and responses from the BJP government in Assam.
Assam Govt’s Response
The state government claims that large gatherings like Gandhi’s padayatra could attract miscreants with the intent to disrupt the event, leading to potential violence. They cite the intelligence report and previous incidents as justification for their concerns, as the state witnessed recent religious tension.
Additionally, the govt stated that Gandhi and the Congress party did not follow proper procedures for the necessary permissions for certain aspects of the padayatra, such as street corner meetings in Morigaon district. They also accused Congress of using restrictions to gain sympathy. And not prioritizing public safety and jeopardizing it with protests despite security concerns.
Possible Outcomes
The ongoing controversy and protest could further escalate political tensions in Assam, and the media spotlight on the issue amplifies the political tension between the parties. The BJP and Congress parties might engage in dialogue to compromise or could involve re-routing the padayatra, and other things. Overall, reaching to a compromise might be difficult as the entrenched positions and lack of trust between the two parties.
Comments 1