On Assam CM’s orders, Rahul Gandhi booked for ‘provoking supporters to break barricades’

Tribune News Service

Neeraj Mohan

Guwahati, January 23

The ongoing Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi took a tumultuous turn in Assam on Tuesday as an FIR was lodged against him and other Congress leaders on the orders of CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, who accused Rahul of provoking party workers to break barricades in a peaceful state.

Stopping the march here is their style, intimidation tactics. We are not intimidated by these people, we are not afraid of them. Rahul Gandhi, Cong leader

Seat talks with TMC on track

Rahul Gandhi reaffirmed that he maintained a strong rapport with Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, downplaying Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury’s critical remarks on seat-sharing talks with the Trinamool Congress. Rahul said the seat negotiations with the Trinamool Congress were on track.

Naxalite tactics

Your unruly behaviour and violation of agreed guidelines have resulted in a massive traffic jam… We are a peaceful state. Such ‘Naxalite tactics’ are completely alien to our culture. Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam CM

The allegation evoked a sharp response from the Congress leader, who accused Sarma of adopting “intimidating tactics” at the behest of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. This is the sixth day of the party’s Nyay Yatra in Assam.

“With reference to wanton acts of violence, provocation, damage to public property and assault on police personnel today by Congress members, an FIR has been registered against Rahul Gandhi, KC Venugopal, Kanhaiya Kumar and other individuals,” the CM posted on X.

The yatra witnessed a clash between Congress workers and Assam Police personnel near the Meghalaya-Assam border. A confrontation resulted as the Congress workers, led by Rahul, broke the barricades set up by the police to prevent the yatra from entering Guwahati. The police resorted to a lathi-charge, injuring several Congress workers, including Assam Congress president Bhupen K Borah. In a social media post, the Chief Minister earlier accused Congress leaders Rahul and Jitendra Singh of inciting violence against Assam Police personnel. “Evidence is emerging as to how Rahul Gandhi and Jitendra Singh instigated the mob to kill Assam Police personnel. Our soldiers are servants of the public, not of any royal family. Rest assured, the law has a very long arm and will definitely reach you,” he wrote on X.

“This is not part of Assamese culture. We are a peaceful state. Such ‘Naxalite tactics’ are completely alien to our culture. I have instructed the DGP to register a case….” Rahul hit out at the Chief Minister, saying: “Whatever the Assam CM is doing against the yatra, it benefits the yatra. The publicity that we might have not got, but by doing this the Assam Chief Minister and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are helping us.”

Rahul alleged that BJP president JP Nadda and the Bajrang Dal were allowed to take out rallies on this route but the Congress was not allowed to carry out a yatra on the same road. “We broke the barricades, but we will not break the law, like the Prime Minister, Home Minister and Assam Chief Minister. But do not think that the Congress is weak,” he said.

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