Guwahati is currently experiencing tension as approximately 5,000 Congress workers attempt to enter the city for the continuation of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi. To prevent the Congress rally from causing disruptions on Guwahati roads, a significant number of state police officers have been deployed. The government, under Himanta Biswa Sarma’s leadership, initially denied permission for the Yatra to pass through the main roads of Guwahati. Their reasoning was that it is a working day in the city, and allowing the rally to proceed through these roads could result in traffic congestion. Instead, the state administration directed the rally to take the national highway route, which leads to lower Assam. Congress workers were instructed to utilize National Highway 27, which functions as a ring road encircling the city.
During his speech at the Guwahati city limits, Mr. Gandhi emphasized the significance of the route taken by the Bajrang Dal and BJP chief JP Nadda ji’s rally. He acknowledged that although they had encountered a barricade, they did not resort to breaking the law. Mr. Gandhi wanted to make it clear that the Congress workers should not be underestimated, as they possess great strength.
Furthermore, Mr. Gandhi expressed his concern about the suppression faced by the people of Assam. He mentioned that his student interaction in Meghalaya was cancelled, and the authorities were instructed not to allow students to meet him. Despite these obstacles, the students managed to meet him outside.
Mr. Gandhi conveyed a powerful message that Congress workers are not afraid of the BJP-RSS alliance and are determined to defeat them in Assam. He acknowledged that the officers have been instructed to fulfill their duties, but he emphasized the importance of justice. He assured the audience that their intention is not to fight against them, but rather to express their love and fight against the corruption of Assam’s Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma.
The Congress workers participating in the march have accused the state administration of unjustly denying them entry into the city. This situation arises amidst an ongoing dispute between the Congress and the BJP government in Assam. The Congress has claimed that the government led by Himanta Biswa Sarma is obstructing the yatra led by Mr. Gandhi. They have stated, “Since our arrival in Assam, the most corrupt Chief Minister in India has been relentlessly attacking our convoys, properties, and leaders through his henchmen.”
In response to this confrontation, Mr. Sarma stated today that Assam is a peaceful state and such “naxalite tactics” are foreign to its culture. He further added, “I have instructed the Director General of Police, Assam Police, to file a case against your leader Rahul Gandhi for inciting the crowd, and you can use the footage you have shared on your platforms as evidence. Your unruly behavior and violation of agreed-upon guidelines have resulted in a significant traffic congestion in Guwahati at present,” in reply to a Congress post on X.
The Congress workers’ actions of breaking barricades have resulted in injuries to both police officers and the general public, as stated by the Assam Police. The authorities have assured that appropriate measures are being taken to address this issue.
The managing committee of the shrine, according to the Congress, initially consented to Mr. Gandhi’s visit but subsequently reversed its stance.
In addition, Mr. Gandhi encountered obstacles during the Meghalaya leg of his journey. A planned interaction between the Congress leader and students at a university in Meghalaya was called off after local authorities refused permission. Mr. Gandhi then proceeded to address students from the yatra truck near the Assam-Meghalaya border. During his speech, he accused the Union Home Minister of instructing the cancellation of his interaction with the university students.