22 January,2024 10:26 AM IST | Assam | mid-day online correspondent
Rahul Gandhi. Pic/PTI
Tensions during the on-going Rahul Gandhi led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra continuous. On Monday, high drama prevailed in Assam's Haiboragaon when the Congress was not allowed by the authorities to visit the Sri Sri Sankar Dev Satra temple in Bordua, a PTI report said.
Rahul Gandhi along with other Congress leaders was stopped at Haiboragaon and not allowed to proceed further. The Gandhi was supposed to offer his prayers to the local deity before starting his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Assam.
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Mahila Congress leaders subsequently sat on a dharna to protest against denial of permission to Gandhi to visit the temple. The former Congress chief also joined the dharna. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Jairam Ramesh and others sang 'Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram' on the protest to visit Batadrava Than before 3 pm.
Authorities said Gandhi will be permitted to visit the temple only at 3 pm, PTI reported.
Gandhi questioned the police on been stopped from visiting the temple. "Will PM Modi now decide who will visit a temple and when," Gandhi said. "We do not want to create any problems, simply pray at the temple," Gandhi told the police authorities.
Tight security arrangements are made around Sri Sri Sankar Dev Satra temple and huge police force is also deployed.
Barring the local MP and MLA, no Congress leaders were allowed to travel beyond Haiboragaon- around 20 km from the temple spot.
Congress Sewa Dal chief Lalji Desai condemed the act saying it was "shameful." "This is atrocious. It is unfortunate that the prime minister will decide who will pray at what time in the country," he said. "Till the time the prime minister does pooja (in Ayodhya), no one is allowed to pray anywhere," Desai claimed.
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.
At the gathering on Sunday, 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."
The Yatra re-entered Assam through Biswanath from Arunachal Pradesh on Sunday morning.
