Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has asked police to register a case against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over clashes in Guwahati. Sarma charged that Gandhi provoked the crowd in Guwahati.
Responding to a tweet by Indian Youth Congress National President Srinivas B.V. on the clashes, Sarma said, “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.”
Congress workers and Assam police clashed in Guwahati as Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra re-entered Assam on Tuesday. Assam government has reportedly advised Rahul Gandhi to opt for the national highway instead of Guwahati’s arterial roads to avoid traffic jams in the city.
Reportedly, the clashes began after Rahul Gandhi’s bus turned towards the city after entering Guwahati. Congress workers clashed with police and tried to remove the barricades. However, the police had to lathi charge party workers to disperse them. According to reports, tension prevailed for about 30 minutes and the Yatra later took the highway route itself.
Ever since the yatra began, Rahul Gandhi and Assam CM have engaged in a war of words, with the Assam government restricting permissions to the yatra. On Monday, Gandhi was stopped from visiting the birthplace of iconic Vaishnav saint Srimanta Sankardeva and was asked to visit the temple after Ayodhya pran pratishtha. Congress accused the BJP government in the state of deliberately hindering the yatra.
