Congress alleges ‘security breaches’ in Bharat Jodo Yatra, blames Delhi Police
Congress party claimed that the intelligence officers working for the BJP-led government in Haryana illegally entered one of the yatra’s campsites
The Congress wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah alleging on Wednesday “serious security breaches”. When the Bharat Jodo Yatra entered the national capital last week, The Congress also accused the Delhi Police of “failing” to maintain a perimeter around Rahul Gandhi, who is heading the foot march.
The Congress General Secretary (Organisation) K C Venugopal asked the Centre to take “urgent steps” to assure their protection. as Rahul Gandhi, who is a Z plus category protectee, and other participants in the yatra were asked to be safe and secure.
“As Bharat Jodo Yatra entered Delhi, on 24th December 2022, the security of the Bharat Jodo Yatra was compromised on multiple occasions, and the Delhi police completely failed in controlling the surging crowd and maintaining a perimeter around Shri Rahul Gandhi, who is assigned Z+ Security. The situation was so severe that the Congress workers and the Bharat Yatris walking along with Shri Rahul Gandhi had to form the perimeter. At the same time, the Delhi police remained as mute spectators,” Venugopal wrote.
He also alleged that “to harass participants and prevent eminent personalities from joining the Bharat Jodo Yatra”, Intelligence Bureau is interrogating many participants. The Congress had filed a complaint in this regard at Haryana’s Sohna City police station on December 23.
Congress writes to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and requests him "to take immediate steps to ensure the safety and security of Rahul Gandhi and of all the Bharat Yatris and leaders joining Bharat Jodo Yatra" pic.twitter.com/tCsbyh9D6J
— ANI (@ANI) December 28, 2022
The opposition has been asserting that when the yatra was going through the state, intelligence officers working for the BJP-led government in Haryana illegally entered one of the yatra’s campsites.
“According to Article 19 of the Constitution, every citizen has a Constitutional right to assemble and move freely throughout the territory of India. Bharat Jodo Yatra is a pad yatra to bring peace and harmony to the country. The government should not indulge in vindictive politics and ensure the safety and security of the Congress leaders,” added Venugopal.
He also mentioned the assassinations of former prime ministers Rajiv and Indira Gandhi, as well as the Maoist attack on the state leadership of the Congress in Chhattisgarh in 2013 that resulted in the deaths of 29 people.
“In this regard, I request you to take immediate steps to ensure the safety and security of Rahul Gandhi, a Z+ protectee, and of all the Bharat Yatris and leaders joining the Bharat Jodo Yatra,” Venugopal said.
Read more: Will Rahul Gandhi Stop Bharat Jodo Yatra?
Another Congress leader Pawan Khera said, “Don’t even attempt to stop Bharat Jodo Yatra. This is our warning. In Badarpur, we saw a complete collapse in crowd management. Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders managed the crowd,”
He further added, “We are now entering Punjab and Jammu, Kashmir.
He said, “These are sensitive areas. We have brought this to the notice of the home ministry,” Khera said.
“This is a party which lost two prime ministers. We all are very concerned over Rahul Gandhi’s security,” Pawan Khera said.
In a statement, CRPF said, “Rahul Gandhi violated security guidelines on 113 occasions since 2020 including in the Delhi leg of Bharat Jodo Yatra.”
