Assam govt threatening people not to join Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra; but public not afraid of BJP: Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi. Pic/PTI

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday alleged that Assam's BJP-led government has been threatening people against joining the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra and also refusing permissions for programmes along the route, reported news agency PTI.

But people are not afraid of the BJP, Rahul Gandhi claimed addressing a while public gathering at Biswanath Chariali, the headquarters of Biswanath district, reported PTI.

He also asserted that the party will win by huge margins against the BJP in the coming elections.

At the gathering, Rahul Gandhi said, "We don't make long speeches as part of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. We travel every day for 7-8 hours, listen to your issues and our aim is to raise these issues."

He alleged that people are being threatened against joining the Yatra and permissions are being denied to hold programmes along its routes while flags and banners of the Congress are being damaged in the state, reported PTI.

"They (government) think they can suppress the people. But they are not realising that this is not Rahul Gandhi's Yatra. It is a Yatra for the voice of the people," he said.

The Yatra re-entered Assam through Biswanath from Arunachal Pradesh on Sunday morning, reported PTI.

"Neither Rahul Gandhi nor the people of Assam are afraid of you. You can do whatever you want... When elections will come, Congress will defeat the BJP with massive margins," he said.

Gandhi also continued to target Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, terming him the "most corrupt CM in the country", reported PTI.

Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi should avoid visiting the birthplace of Srimanta Sankardeva at Batadrava on January 22, as there can be no competition between Lord Ram and the medieval age Vaishnav saint revered as an icon in the state, reported PTI.

Sarma said that commandos will be deployed along sensitive routes of minority-dominated areas to be taken by Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra on January 22, the day of the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, reported PTI.

"We will request Rahul Gandhi not to visit Batadrava on Monday during the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple as it will reflect Assam in the wrong light," the chief minister said at a press conference.

(With inputs from PTI)