Kharge writes to Shah on 'security issues' faced by Gandhi in Assam

Hours after after Congress leaders were booked for wanton acts of violence by the Assam Police Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge wrote to Home Minister Amit Shah on security issues faced by party leader Rahul Gandhi in Assam during Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra reported news agency PTIIn a letter Kharge called on Shah to ensure Gandhis safety during the YatraThe Assam police on Tuesday registered a case against Gandhi and other Congress leaders for instigating a crowd to launch an attack on Guwahati police reported PTIEarlier in the day the state police didnt allow the Gandhiled Yatra to enter the city triggering protests from irate Congress workers who removed security barricades on the outskirts of the cityIn his letter to the Union home minister Kharge said there have been several instances where the Assam Police has been found wanting in providing adequate security that Rahul Gandhi who is entitled to as a Z security since the Yatra entered the state on January 18 reported PTIHe listed out such incidents in Sibsagar district Lakhimpur Sonitpur and NagaonKharge said on the first day of the Yatra in the state Assam Police was found protecting the posters of the BJP in Amguri Sibsagar district instead of ensuring safe passage for the Yatra reported PTIThe next day miscreants associated with the BJP were caught defacing and taking down posters and hoardings of the Yatra in Lakhimpur district he saidLater when the Yatra returned from Arunachal Pradesh there was another outrageous attack on the Yatra in Sonitpur district where the local Superintendent of Police happens to be the brother of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma Kharge saidHe watched to see that BJP workers attacked and manhandled the Indian National Congress Social Media team along with our General Secretary Shri Jairam Ramesh Shri Rameshs car was attacked while miscreants shouting antiBJNY Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra slogans tearing off the BJNY sticker on the vehicle and attempting to throw water on the passengers inside the Congress chief said reported PTIOn the same day in Sonitpur district the BJPs district party workers approached and blocked Shri Rahul Gandhis convoy The BJPs workers then physically assaulted the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee President ShriBhupen Borah resulting in him bleeding profusely he said reported PTIOn January 22 in Nagaon district BJP workers blocked Gandhis convoy coming extremely close to him and creating an extremely unsafe situation Kharge allegedIn all of the troubling events mentioned above the Assam Police has systematically stood by andor allowed BJP workers to come closer and closer to the convoy of Shri Rahul Gandhi breaching his security cordon and endangering his physical security and that of his team Kharge said reported PTIThe Congress chief said none of the miscreants have been arrested even when there was ample evidence for all listed incidents and added that in many instances investigation has not been initiatedAs the risk increases and as the Yatra proceeds as planned we request your intervention to ensure that the Chief Minister of Assam and the Director General of Police Assam ensure that no such untoward incident takes place which may lead to grave personal injury to Shri Rahul Gandhi or any members of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra he said in his letter to ShahSharing Kharges letter Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge ji wrote to the Union Home Minister last night on the serious security issues faced by Rahul Gandhi in Assam over the past few daysWith inputs from PTI