"Free publicity...will benefit us...": Rahul Gandhi slams Assam CM Sarma

Pic/PTI

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday intensified his attack on Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, saying that the 'intimidation tactics' that are being used by the BJP against the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra will ultimately benefit party' yatra.

Contradicting Wayanad MP, Biswa Sarma termed the "unruly behaviour of the Congress workers as "Naxalite tactics" and instructed DGP Assam Police to register a case against Rahul Gandhi for violating guidelines that resulted in a massive traffic jam in Guwahati.

The Congress leader is leading the party's Manipur to Mumbai Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.

Addressing a press conference in Kamrup, Congress leader termed the Assam CM "the most corrupt Chief Minister of the country."

"The chief minister of the state is one of the most corrupt chief ministers in the country. Whenever I move to the state people tell me- that massive unemployment, corruption, price rise, farmers are struggling and no youth can get a job in this state. These are the issues we are raising and we are being very successful in it," he said.

Congress MP further said that Assam CM's tactics will help our yatra and will benefit the Yatra.

"Whatever the Assam CM is doing against the Yatra, it benefits the Yatra. The publicity that we might have not got, by doing this the Assam CM and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are helping us. Now, the main issue in Assam is the Yatra...It is their intimidation tactics...Our message of Nyay is reaching the people. Even the BJP people who are protesting are waving hands at me," he added.

He further said that this Yatra is about five pillars of NYAY adding that the Yatra has become the main issue of Assam.

"There is an idea of Nyay behind this Nyay Yatra. Congress party will bring forward its five pillars of justice in the next one month which give the country power," he added.

Earlier today, the Assam Chief Minister instructed the state Director General of Police (DGP) to register a case against Rahul Gandhi for allegedly "provoking crowd."

In a post on social media platform X, Chief Minister Sarma said "Naxalite tactics" were alien to Assam's culture.

"These are not part of Assamese culture. We are a peaceful state. Such "Naxalite tactics" are completely alien to our culture. I have instructed DGP Assam Police to register a case against your leader Rahul Gandhi for provoking the crowd and use the footage you have posted on your handles as evidence. Your unruly behaviour and violation of agreed guidelines have resulted in a massive traffic jam in Guwahati now," Sarma said on X.

Earlier in the day, Congress workers who were stopped from entering Guwahati city clashed with Assam Police.

Rahul Gandhi had earlier today claimed that he was not allowed to interact with students of the state.

Meanwhile, as Bharat Jodo Yatra resumed its journey on the 10th day on Tuesday from Assam, heavy security was deployed at Khanapara Area, the entry point of Guwahati for the Yatra.

There was barricading and heavy deployment of police officials in the Khanapara Area, where Rahul Gandhi's Yatra will reach today.

According to Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra's official handle on X, the Congress will hold a press conference later today. After that, the yatra will resume its journey and it will halt at Bishnupur in Assam.

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