New Delhi [India], December 4: Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, criticized the authorities on Wednesday for blocking his attempt to visit violence-hit Sambhal. He stated that despite his willingness to travel without his convoy or with police escort, the authorities insisted that he return in a few days, which he claimed violated the rights of the LoP and the Constitution.
Earlier, Rahul Gandhi, along with Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi and other party members, were stopped by the police at the Ghazipur border and prevented from proceeding to Sambhal, a district that had recently witnessed violent clashes. They were then forced to return to Delhi.
Addressing the situation, Rahul Gandhi said, “We are trying to go to Sambhal, but the police are refusing. As the LoP, I have the constitutional right to visit, but they are stopping me. I am ready to go alone or with the police, but they still won’t let us. They have told us to return in a few days, but this is against the rights of the LoP and the Constitution. We just want to visit Sambhal, meet the people, and understand what happened there. This is the new India that aims to end the Constitution, but we will continue to fight for our rights.”
Congress MP KC Venugopal also expressed concern, stating that the police had informed them that they would be allowed to visit Sambhal after four to five days. “They purposefully blocked the traffic. We don’t want to cause any inconvenience to the public,” he said.
Venugopal further questioned the reasoning behind the UP government’s decision to stop the delegation from visiting the families of the victims of the violence. “It is basic humanity to stand by those who have suffered such a loss. Rahul Gandhi’s motto has always been ‘Nafrat ke bazaar mein mohabbat ki dukaan’ (A shop of love in a market of hate). In an atmosphere of hatred created by the ruling regime, it is our responsibility as the opposition to bring compassion, empathy, and love,” he added.
The violence in Sambhal took place on November 24 during an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) examination of a Mughal-era mosque. The clashes led to the deaths of four people, while several others, including police personnel, were injured. The ASI survey was initiated following a petition claiming the mosque site was originally a Harihar temple.
Venugopal stressed the importance of meeting the victims’ families for promoting peace and communal harmony and called on the UP government to allow their visit.