Congress workers clash with police as Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra denied entry into Guwahati

Tension gripped Guwahati outskirts on Tuesday (January 23) when the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra was stopped from entering the city, triggering protests from Congress workers who broke barricades and raised slogans.

The police had to use force to stop the Congress supporters from moving forward. Heavy police deployment has been made on the spot to prevent the Congress rally from hitting Guwahati roads. The state government had earlier denied permission to the yatra to move through arterial roads in Guwahati. The administration contended that allowing the yatra to move through key city roads on a working day may lead to traffic snarls. Congress workers were instead asked to take the National Highway 27 that acts like a ring road around the city.

The latest face-off comes close on the heels of the dramatic scenes that unfolded on Monday when the former Congress chief was barred from visiting the shrine of a 15th century social reformer. Rahul had planned to visit the birthplace of Vaishnav saint Srimanta Sankardeva near Guwahati, but he wasn’t allowed to proceed with it.

Rahul, Sarma at loggerheads

Addressing party workers at the Guwahati city limits, Rahul said, “My message is Congress workers aren't afraid of BJP- RSS, we'll defeat them in Assam. I know the officers are being told to do their duty, but there should be justice. We are not here to fight you, we love you. We are here to fight the most corrupt CM Himanta (Biswa Sarma) of Assam.” He alleged that the people of Assam are being suppressed. “My student interaction (in Meghalaya) was cancelled, the authorities were told not to allow students to meet me. Despite that, they came to meet me outside,” he charged.

Hitting back at Rahul Gandhi, Sarma took to social media platform X, stating, “These are not part of Assamese culture. We are a peaceful state. Such “naxalite tactics” are completely alien to our culture. I have instructed @DGPAssamPolice to register a case against your leader @RahulGandhi for provoking the crowd & use the footage you have posted on your handles as the evidence. Your unruly behaviour and violation of agreed guidelines have resulted in a massive traffic jam in Guwahati now.”

The Yatra, which entered Meghalaya on Monday, returned to Assam for its last leg and will travel through the outskirts of the state's largest city Guwahati. The Yatra would be in Assam till Thursday.

(With agency inputs)