New Delhi: Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi, and other MPs will try to visit the restive town of Sambhal in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday. Heavy security has been deployed at Ghazipur border in view of this.
On November 24, Sambhal erupted in violence, claiming the lives of four persons. The violence was reportedly sparked by a survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid after a petition claimed there was previously a Harihar temple at the site.
The visit of Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka and other MPs comes even though restrictions have been slapped by the district administration until December 10 following the violence.
On Tuesday, Sambhal district magistrate Rajendra Pensiya urged officials from neighbouring districts, including Gautam Buddha Nagar, Amroha, Bulandshahr, and Ghaziabad, to stop Rahul Gandhi from entering Sambhal by intercepting him at the district borders. The Sambhal DM has shot off letters to the police commissioners of Gautam Buddha Nagar and Ghaziabad, and the superintendents of police in Amroha and Bulandshahr.
Congress general secretary and Uttar Pradesh in-charge Avinash Pande demanded public support for Rahul Gandhi and his team. Moradabad divisional commissioner Aunjaneya Kumar Singh had earlier said that the administration was continuously asking Rahul Gandhi to defer his visit.
Traffic jam at Ghazipur border
Slow traffic movement was witnessed at the Ghazipur border on Delhi-Meerut Expressway. Due to the barricades put up by the police, there is a traffic jam at the Ghazipur border. Along with this, heavy police force has been deployed. The administration has put the four districts around Sambhal — Bulandshahr, Amroha, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar — on alert.
‘Why is govt stopping us?’
Amid government restrictions, Congress leader Ajay Kumar Lallu asked: “Why is the government stopping us? What are they trying to hide, what are they scared of? Being the Leader of Opposition, he (Rahul Gandhi) has the right to see what is going on in the country. The incident that took place in Sambhal is highly condemnable. People have been killed. Who is responsible? If the LoP does not visit the site, how will he take up the issue in Parliament? We want to see the situation in Sambhal but government is preventing us? Isn’t this dictatorship? Rahul Gandhi will surely visit Sambhal and meet the families of the victims and raise their voices…”
‘We don’t have orders to stop them’
ACP Indirapuram, Swatantra Kumar Singh, said, “The orders that I have been given is to maintain good security here. We will follow the commands given to us.” On being asked if Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will be stopped by police, he pointed out, “We do not have any such orders as of now.”
Which Congress leaders are in the delegation
Congress leaders and MPs will gather at the party office around 9 am. Rahul and Priyanka will leave for Sambhal with them. They will reach Sambhal via Ghazipur between 12.30 pm and 1.30 pm. If Rahul Gandhi is stopped, Congress will demand from the administration to let him go to Sambhal with 5 people or even less. UP Congress President Ajay Rai said that the delegation will leave at 10 am. In this delegation, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, in-charge Avinash Pandey, and Rai and Congress MPs from UP will be there and head towards Sambhal.
