NEW DELHI: A scuffle broke out between Congress workers and commuters on Wednesday at Ghazipur border as people raised slogans against Lok Sabha MP Rahul Gandhi.
Commuters protested and raised slogans against the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha at the Ghazipur border amid traffic slowdown caused by barricading related to his visit to violence-hit Sambhal.
“I do not know anything why we are stopped? If he (Rahul Gandhi) is over there (on the other side of the road) then why is this road blocked? Why public has to suffer?” a commuter at Ghazipur border was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Another commuter said, “We just want our way to be clear. I am 80 years old. I am coming from Delhi. My brother has died and I want to go from here so that we can at least join his last rites. Where will we go?”
Earlier in the day, a delegation of Congress leaders led by Rahul Gandhi was stopped by the Uttar Pradesh Police at the Ghazipur border on their way to Sambhal. Violence erupted in the Sambhal on November 24 over a court-ordered survey of a mosque, leading to four deaths and several injuries. Prohibitory orders remain in place.
Rahul Gandhi, accompanied by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, stayed at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border for about two hours before returning to Delhi. Heavy traffic congestion was reported on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway, causing inconvenience to commuters.
After being stopped at the Ghazipur border, Rahul Gandhi said, “We are trying to go to Sambhal. Police are refusing, not allowing us. As the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha, it is my right to go. I said that I am ready to go alone, I am ready to go with the police but they did not accept that either.”
Holding up a copy of the Constitution, he added, “We want to go to Sambhal and see what happened there. We want to meet the people but I’m not being allowed my constitutional right. This is India where attempts are on to end the Constitution. But we will keep fighting.”
BJP leaders in Uttar Pradesh criticized the Congress’ actions, describing them as a “drama” aimed at “appeasing its Muslim vote bank.”
“We are trying to go to Sambhal. Police are refusing, not allowing us. As the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha, it is my right to go… I said that I am ready to go alone, I am ready to go with the police but they did not accept that either,” Rahul Gandhi said.
“Now they are saying that if we come back in a few days, they will let us go. This is actually against the right of the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha. I should be allowed to go,” he told reporters.