New Delhi [India]: Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi submitted an adjournment motion notice in the Lok Sabha on Thursday to discuss the police action preventing Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi from visiting violence-hit Sambhal. Gandhi was stopped at the Ghazipur border in Ghaziabad while en route to the area.
In his notice, Gogoi criticized the government, stating that the act disregarded the opposition’s right to hold the government accountable.
“It is a matter of grave concern that the Leader of the Opposition Shri Rahul Gandhi was prevented from visiting Sambhal yesterday to assess the ground realities of the recent regional tensions. The objective of the visit was to promote peace and harmony. This unprecedented and undemocratic move by the government is a blatant disregard for the fundamental principles of parliamentary oversight and the rights of the opposition to hold the government accountable,” Gogoi said.
Gogoi further argued that preventing Gandhi from visiting Sambhal undermined his role as Leader of the Opposition and stifled dissent.
“As a representative of the people, the Leader of the Opposition has the responsibility to raise their concerns and hold the government accountable. Denying them access to crucial sites undermines their ability to fulfill this duty. This act is a blatant attempt to stifle dissent and suppress the voice of the Opposition. This incident raises serious questions about the state government’s commitment to transparency and accountability,” he added.
Rahul Gandhi’s Statement on Police Action
On Wednesday, Rahul Gandhi, accompanied by Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi and other Congress leaders, was stopped by police at the Ghazipur border while attempting to visit Sambhal.
“We are trying to go to Sambhal, but the police are refusing to allow us. As Leader of the Opposition, it is my right to visit, yet they are stopping me. I am ready to go alone or even under police escort, but they have rejected that as well. They claim we can return in a few days, but this violates the rights of the Leader of the Opposition and the Constitution. We simply want to visit Sambhal, meet the people, and understand what has happened. Denying this right reflects the state of ‘New India,’ an India undermining the Constitution and Ambedkar’s vision. We will continue to fight,” said Rahul Gandhi.
Background of Sambhal Violence
The violence in Sambhal broke out on November 24 during an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) examination of a Mughal-era mosque. The examination was prompted by a petition in a local court claiming that the mosque was built on the site of a Harihar temple. The clashes resulted in four fatalities and left multiple police personnel and locals injured.