Congress Accuses Assam BJP Government of Obstructing Bharat Jodo Yatra
Accusing that BJP workers vandalised posters and banners put up in Assam's North Lakhimpur town to welcome the party's ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’ led by Rahul Gandhi, Assam Congress leader Bharat Narah told reporters that most of the banners, posters and hoardings within the North Lakhimpur town area were damaged on Friday night.
He said, “We have reports that batteries of boats were removed. Fuel depots have run dry to ensure that people cannot come with their vehicles.”
The Congress leader however asserted, “We want to tell them that nothing can prevent the success of the Yatra.” The Congress leaders also alleged that they have submitted a letter seeking permission for the yatra in Guwahati but administration has not responded to their letter as yet. “We have sought permission on routes on which BJP president J P Nadda was allowed to take out a foot-march recently, the Congress leader said.
The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra on its third day in Assam is scheduled to pass through several parts of Lakhimpur district, including the headquarters town North Lakhimpur, before entering Arunachal Pradesh later on Saturday. The Yatra will return to Assam on Sunday. A public rally at Kaliabor in Assam is also scheduled, which will be attended by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and other top leaders.
Earlier Assam chief minister taking a dig at Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra defined it as the “Miya Yatra", and said that he had asked the Congress leaders not to pass through Guwahati, as it has medical colleges and hospitals. He said, "We will give permission for any alternative route if they seek,"
The chief minister also warned, “If the Congress yatra reaches Guwahati without permission, we will not go into confrontation as they want to do so get media attention but a case will be filed later and two bad elements participating in the rally will be arrested 3-4 months after the Lok Sabha elections.” he however refused to name the bad elements in the yatra.
Earlier senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh told reporters that Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma was trying to derail the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in the state, because he was rattled by the response from the people.
Mr Ramesh, the party's general secretary, asserted that the Yatra will, however, continue with its itinerary in the state for another six days as scheduled.
"The Assam CM can abuse and defame, he can threaten and intimidate but we are not afraid. He is obviously disturbed by the huge impact of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, which will continue in Assam for another 6 days in spite of his continuing efforts to derail it," he said.
In a related development on Thursday, Jorhat Police registered a case against a few people associated with the Congress's ongoing Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra for alleged deviation from its original route in the state. The party reacted to the action and claimed that the state government was making deliberate attempts to stop people from joining the Yatra.
The yatra, which started from Manipur on January 14, will culminate in Mumbai on March 20. The first 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' was held from Kanyakumari to Kashmir in 2022-23.
Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra is scheduled to cover 6,713 km in 67 days while passing through 110 districts in 15 states. In Assam, it will continue till January 25, travelling 833 km across 17 districts.
