Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, has accused Uttar Pradesh police of obstructing his planned visit to violence-hit Sambhal. Gandhi criticized the move as a violation of his constitutional right to meet affected citizens in his capacity as Leader of the Opposition.
He expressed frustration at the Ghazipur border, stating that he was even willing to travel alone under police escort but was still denied access. Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra echoed Gandhi’s sentiments, stating that blocking his visit was undemocratic and that the Uttar Pradesh police seem incapable of managing the situation.
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak accused Congress of politicizing the violence and defended the police’s actions, citing the enforcement of Section 144, which prohibits large gatherings in areas under tension.
Pathak remarked that the situation in Sambhal has changed, and it is now a state of law and order, not division. The unrest in Sambhal began on November 24, when four people were killed and several others injured after a mob hurled stones at officials conducting a survey of a Mughal-era mosque.
While the Uttar Pradesh government insists that law and order are under control, the standoff at the Ghazipur border has further escalated tensions, raising questions about the handling of dissent and democratic rights in the state.
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Source: BT
