Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Congress’ Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi took the Uttar Pradesh Police head-on on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway at the Ghazipur border when they were stopped from going to violence-hit Sambhal. Congress supporters assembled at the Ghazipur border on NH-9, waving flags and raising slogans as the Gandhis waited in their vehicle.
#WATCH | At the Ghazipur border, Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi says “We are trying to go to Sambhal, the police is refusing, they are not allowing us. As LoP, it is my right to go, but they are stopping me. I am ready to go alone, I am ready to go with the police, but they did not… pic.twitter.com/iFWMQRKmk3
— ANI (@ANI) December 4, 2024
However, as senior Congress leaders, such as KC Venugopal and Imran Masood, negotiated with the police, the Gandhis were seen coming out of the vehicle. The Congress leaders were joined by independent MP Pappu Yadav.
#WATCH | Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi at the Ghazipur border where he along with other Congress leaders have been stopped by Police on their way to violence-hit Sambhal. pic.twitter.com/HFu9Z4q07z
— ANI (@ANI) December 4, 2024
Earlier, the ACP of Indirapuram, Swatantra Kumar Singh, said, “Due to security reasons, forces have been deployed, and we shall comply with the instructions as received.”
VIDEO | Heavy traffic congestion witnessed on Delhi-Meerut Expressway in Ghaziabad as Congress workers gathered there ahead of Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh.
Earlier, a violence occurred in Sambhal during court-ordered survey of… pic.twitter.com/2ndbkncYD6
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 4, 2024
Owing to the delay, Rahul Gandhi proposed to go to Sambhal if his cavalcade was not allowed. Congress sources said he was ready to be escorted to Sambhal even in a police vehicle.
Congress MP Tanuj Punia said: “Rahul Gandhi is no ordinary leader; he is the Leader of Opposition. He should be allowed to visit [Sambhal] and review the situation because of his role in the Lok Sabha.”
VIDEO | “Rahul Gandhi is not an ordinary leader, he is LoP. He should be allowed to visit (Sambhal) and review the situation because of his role in the legislature. His visit is very important,” says Congress MP Tanuj Punia (@tanujpuniaINC) on Rahul Gandhi’s scheduled visit to… pic.twitter.com/RofQzG8El0
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 4, 2024
Priyanka Gandhi, too, said: “Rahul Gandhi is the leader of the opposition, he has constitutional rights and he cannot be stopped like this. He has the constitutional right to be allowed to go and meet the victims. He also said that he would go alone with the UP police but they are not ready to do that either. The police have no answer. Maybe the situation in Uttar Pradesh is such that they cannot handle even this much. Why do they say so arrogantly that they have taken care of the law and order?”
#WATCH | At the Ghazipur border, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra says “Whatever happened in Sambhal is wrong. Rahul Gandhi is the leader of the opposition, he has constitutional rights and he cannot be stopped like this. He has the constitutional right to be allowed to go and… pic.twitter.com/abgStXCwCi
— ANI (@ANI) December 4, 2024
However, the Congress leaders’ visit seemed to spark some tension with its INDIA partner, the Samajwadi Party. SP MP Ram Gopal Yadav said, “Our party was already going there and they, too, were not allowed. They [Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders] are going only now…”
Eventually, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were turned back to Delhi.