As the Ram temple is set to be inaugurated in Ayodhya on Monday, the Congress’ Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra faced new issues in Assam as Rahul Gandhi was not allowed to enter the Bordowa ‘Batadrava’ Than in Nagaon, the birthplace of the great Assamese saint and social reformer Srimanta Sankardev.
The Congress maintained that Gandhi received the invitation to visit the pilgrimage site in the early hours of 11th January but late Sunday night, it was announced that Rahul Gandhi cannot enter the site before 3:00 pm for law and order concerns. On Monday morning, heavy security was placed in Nagaon since Gandhi was not allowed in, Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi visited Bordowa ‘Batadrava’ Than.
“It is obvious that the Bordowa Than Management Committee was pressurised by the Assam CM into taking the decision it did, who in turn has been instructed from Delhi,” Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh stated on X.
On behalf of Shri Rahul Gandhi I visited the birthplace of Saint Srimanta Sankardeva. Rahul Gandhi was denied permission to visit Batadrava Than by the police citing law&order and pre scheduled program. The fact is the opposite because there was no program taking place. pic.twitter.com/zcF30bMhD4
— Gaurav Gogoi (@GauravGogoiAsm) January 22, 2024
Meanwhile, the Congress General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal has called for protest demonstration in all State and district PCC headquarters on Monday evening to oppose the “heinous, planned attacks on the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra” in Assam. He called on the party members to stand “firm and united” in the face of such “blatant attempts to suppress our cause”.
Later, on Monday afternoon, the yatra will enter Meghalaya.