Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge
After Congress leaders were charged with “wanton acts of violence” by Assam Police, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge wrote to Home Minister Amit Shah addressing security concerns for party leader Rahul Gandhi during the Assam leg of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.
In his letter, Kharge urged Shah to ensure Gandhi’s safety throughout the Yatra. The Assam Police has filed a case against Gandhi and other Congress leaders for allegedly inciting a crowd to attack Guwahati police.
Kharge highlighted several instances where the Assam Police allegedly failed to provide adequate security for Rahul Gandhi, who is entitled to Z+ security, since the Yatra entered the state on January 18. Incidents were reported in Sibsagar district, Lakhimpur, Sonitpur, and Nagaon.
Assam Police observed protecting BJP posters
He pointed out that on the first day of the Yatra in the state, Assam Police were observed protecting BJP posters in Amguri, Sibsagar district, instead of ensuring a safe passage for the Yatra. The following day, individuals linked to the BJP were reportedly caught vandalizing and removing Yatra posters and hoardings in Lakhimpur district.
Upon Yatra’s return from Arunachal Pradesh, another “outrageous attack” allegedly occurred in Sonitpur district, where the local Superintendent of Police is the brother of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, as per Kharge’s letter.
What did Kharge write?
“He watched to see that BJP workers attacked and manhandled the Indian National Congress Social Media team, along with our General Secretary, Shri. Jairam Ramesh. Shri Ramesh’s car was attacked, while miscreants shouting anti-BJNY (Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra) slogans, tearing off the BJNY sticker on the vehicle, and attempting to throw water on the passengers inside,” the Congress chief said.
“On the same day in Sonitpur district, the BJP’s district party workers approached and blocked Shri. Rahul Gandhi’s convoy. The BJP’s workers then physically assaulted the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee President Shri.Bhupen Borah, resulting in him bleeding profusely,” he said.
“In all of the troubling events mentioned above, the Assam Police has systematically stood by and/or allowed BJP workers to come closer and closer to the convoy of Shri. Rahul Gandhi, breaching his security cordon, and endangering his physical security and that of his team,” Kharge said.
Even though after having enough proof for each of the incidences, the head of Congress said that none of the miscreants had been taken into custody.
“As the risk increases, and as the Yatra proceeds as planned, we request your intervention to ensure that the Chief Minister of Assam and the Director General of Police, Assam ensure that no such untoward incident takes place which may lead to grave personal injury to Shri. Rahul Gandhi or any members of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra,” he said in his letter to Shah.
With Agency inputs
