Assam CM directs police to file case against Rahul Gandhi for 'provoking the crowd'

Pic/PTI

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday instructed the Director General of Police (DGP) to register a case against former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi for "provoking the crowd" to break barricades, and called their actions "Naxalite tactics".

"I have instructed @DGPAssamPolice to register a case against your leader Rahul Gandhi for provoking the crowd," the chief minister posted on 'X' in response to a post of Youth Congress president Srinivas BV.

Sarma said the footage posted by Srinivas on his handles will be used as evidence.

"These are not part of Assamese culture. We are a peaceful state. Such 'Naxalite tactics' are completely alien to our culture," the chief minister said.

"Your unruly behaviour and violation of agreed guidelines have resulted in a massive traffic jam in Guwahati now," Sarma added.

Alleging that there was a conspiracy to stop Rahul Gandhi's 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' again by putting up barricades, the IYC chief on X said, "Use as many sticks as you want...This war will continue now", reported PTI.

The Rahul Gandhi-led yatra was stopped from entering the city, triggering protests from Congress workers who broke barricades and raised slogans.

Rahul Gandhi later addressed party supporters on the outskirts of the city, and said, "We have broken barricades, but will not break the law", reported PTI.

The police, which had set up barricades at two places to prevent the Yatra from entering the city limits, had to use force to stop the Congress workers, reported PTI.

Rahul Gandhi was earlier accorded a boisterous welcome as he tried to enter Guwahati and addressed some varsity students on the way.

Addressing supporters, he said while BJP president J P Nadda took the same route, they were not allowed to travel on it, reported PTI.

"You should not think we are weak. We have broken the barricades," he told his workers and supporters, calling them "babbar sher" (lion), reported PTI.

"They have cancelled my programme at the university. My programme was cancelled, but the students heard me outside," he said, reported PTI.

"Congress workers do not fear anyone," he said, adding that "we will defeat the BJP in Assam and form the Congress government soon."

He also lauded the police for doing their job well, reported PTI.

"We know that police officers have done a good job and followed orders, with one person coming and lying down before the (yatra) bus. We are not against you. We are against the chief minister who is most corrupt. Our fight is with him," Rahul Gandhi said, reported PTI.

He said policemen were also clapping on his speech but hastened to add that they should not.

(With inputs from PTI)