Rahul Gandhi is on way to UP's Sambhal to meet victims of the November 24 violence
Congress MPs Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were stopped at Ghazipur border when they were on their way to Sambhal in Uttar Pradesh, where violence erupted two weeks back over the survey of a mosque. The Gandhi siblings and several Congress workers were stopped by police officers, citing the sensitive law and order situation in the western UP town.
The Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha has now requested the police to allow a delegation of 4-5 persons to proceed to Sambhal and meet those affected by the November 24 violence. The police officers have said they would consult their seniors and get back. Later, the officers refused permission to the Congress leaders to proceed to Sambhal. A proposal for Mr Gandhi to go alone was also turned down. "As Leader of the Opposition, it is my job and responsibility to go and meet the victims. I am being stopped from discharging my job and duty," he said. The Congress leaders have now decided to return to Delhi. The massive traffic jam at Delhi-UP border, caused after cops stopped the Congress delegation, is expected to clear once the Opposition leaders turn back.
Prohibitory orders are in place in the western Uttar Pradesh town after four people were killed and several others injured in violent clashes with police during a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid. The Mughal-era mosque is at the centre of a legal battle after some petitions claimed it was built on the site of a Hindu temple. Local Samajwadi Party MP Zia Ur Rehman, Samajwadi Party MLA Mahmood's son Sohail Iqbal and over 700 unidentified people have been charged in the FIR filed in connection with the violence.
Police and administration have said they would not allow outsiders to visit the area, citing the law and order situation. The prohibitory orders have been extended to December 31. Earlier, a delegation of Samajwadi Party MPs was stopped from entering the district.
District Magistrate Rajendra Pensia earlier wrote to the police commissioners of Gautam Buddh Nagar and Ghaziabad and the police superintendents of Amroha and Bulandshahr and urged them to stop Mr Gandhi. Besides the Gandhi siblings, five Congress MPs from Uttar Pradesh are part of the delegation.
Congress leader KC Venugopal slammed the Yogi Adityanath government for stopping the Congress leaders. "It is basic humanity to stand by someone who has suffered such grief and loss. Rahul ji's motto has been 'Nafrat ke bazaar mein mohabbat ki dukaan'. And when the ruling regime has created an atmosphere of hatred, it is our duty as the opposition to bring compassion, empathy and love," he said in a post on X, adding that the Congress delegation was determined to meet the victims' families.
Responding to Uttar Pradesh police stopping the Congress delegation, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav said the state government must allow political leaders to go to Sambhal. "It will improve the situation. It is the administration that has spoiled the situation." Union Minister and senior BJP leader Giriraj Singh termed it a "political drama" by the Leader of the Opposition. "He is frustrated after Haryana and Maharashtra election losses." MPs of the INDIA alliance walked out of Lok Sabha to protest Mr Gandhi being stopped from going to Sambhal.