In Punjab, Rahul’s visit to Gurdaspur villages across Ravi cut short

For the past two days, residents of a cluster of seven ‘Us Paar’ (across the Ravi) villages in Gurdaspur were hopeful of sharing their grievances with Congress MP and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, who was scheduled to visit flood-hit Punjab on Monday.

While the residents had prepared their list of woes, news surfaced that the visit — Rahul was to travel in an NDRF boat — had been called off due to security reasons. Senior Punjab Police officers cited security inputs from the Intelligence Bureau (IB) as the area was located close to Pakistan, but the Congress cried foul, claiming the Punjab Government and the Centre “wanted to hide the fact that absolutely no relief had reached these villages”.

“We had tangible information that Rahul’s visit would be unsafe. That’s why we asked him not to proceed to ‘Us Paar’ from Makoran Pattan village,” said an officer. The decision not to let Rahul cross the Ravi from Makoran Pattan in a boat was taken on Sunday itself during a security meeting held at the Dinanagar SDM’s office. Dinanagar MLA Aruna Chaudhary, Gurdaspur Assistant Commissioner Aditya Gupta, SP(H) Jugraj Singh, SP(D) Gurpartap Singh and Dera Baba Nanak SDM Aaditya Sharma were among those present.

Jugraj is learnt to have said that in the absence of a bridge, it was not possible to ferry bullet-proof vehicles to the other side of the river. He suggested restricting the visit till Makoran Pattan. The proposal was backed by the Border Security Force. When Rahul was informed, he is learnt to have insisted on visiting ‘Us-Paar’. Congress leaders, including MLA Chaudhary’s husband Ashok Chaudhary and Gurdaspur MLA Barindermeet Pahra, engaged three private boats. High drama unfolded around midnight when the police got wind of the development. Behrampur SHO Jatinder Singh was deputed to seize the boats.

Ashok Chaudhury spoke to DIG (Border) Nanak Singh while MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa took up the mattter with DGP Gaurav Yadav. The issue cooled down only after the boats were allowed to reach Makoran Pattan. Rahul is learnt to have said “he would visit ‘Us Paar’ even if he had to swim across the Ravi”. The former Congress president was reportedly told in advance that these were the worst-affected villages. However, when all was set for Rahul to step onto a boat in the afternoon, the police said “they could not allow the visit in a private boat due to security concerns”.

Rahul held discussions with MLA Chaudhary and a group of farmers before giving in. He decided to proceed to Pathankot on his way to Delhi. A senior Congress leader alleged that the police cut short Rahul’s visit because the Centre and state governments wanted to hide the fact that absolutely no relief had reached these villages.

Earlier, in Gurchakk village, Rahul’s cavalcade stopped about 500 metres away from the hamlet. From there, he walked to the village on foot, interacted with farmers and on his way back, he rode a tractor. Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring was on the driving seat while Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa and Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa sat alongside Rahul.

At several places, Rahul was told by villagers that so much of silt had got deposited in their fields by the floodwaters that it would be impossible for them to sow crops for at least two years. They also highlighted the problem of farmland erosion due to perennial breaches in the river embankments and lack of compensation. “Solving riverine issues will be made a top priority by the Congress when it comes to power,” said Rahul.