Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra created a political spectacle at the Gazipur border on Wednesday after being stopped by police while attempting to visit Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, a district still recovering from last month’s attack launched on Hindus by an Islamist mob.
High-voltage drama at the border
The Congress delegation, including the Gandhi siblings and five MPs, faced barricades at the Delhi-Noida border. Both leaders exited their vehicles and engaged with senior police personnel, requesting permission to proceed. However, citing prohibitory orders in Sambhal, officials did not allow them to continue.
Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal criticised the Uttar Pradesh government for the obstruction, claiming it was a deliberate attempt to suppress their efforts to express solidarity with the victims’ families.
“We are determined to meet the victims’ families in the interest of peace and communal harmony in our country,” said Venugopal.
Venugopal also invoked Rahul Gandhi’s slogan, “Nafrat ke bazaar mein mohabbat ki dukaan” (a shop of love in a marketplace of hate).
Prohibitory orders and administrative actions
Authorities in Sambhal cited Section 144—a measure prohibiting large gatherings—as the reason for stopping the Congress delegation. These restrictions were imposed following the attack on November 24 during a survey at the Shahi Jama Masjid, which claimed five lives.
Reports reveal that Sambhal’s District Magistrate had preemptively requested officials in surrounding districts, including Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar, to intercept the Congress leaders. Multiple barricades and vehicle checks were set up along the Delhi-Sambhal route, leading to significant traffic congestion on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway.
District Magistrate officials defended the move, stating, “Given the ongoing tensions, we cannot risk allowing a high-profile visit that could potentially escalate the situation further.”
Congress politicizing violence
Critics have accused the Gandhi siblings of leveraging communal tensions in BJP-ruled states for political mileage.
In 2020, during the Hathras incident, Rahul and Priyanka faced criticism for their approach, with detractors highlighting their apparent insensitivity.
Observers noted that Congress leaders rarely undertake similar visits in states governed by Congress or its allies.
Judicial commission investigating Sambhal attack
On December 1, a judicial commission led by retired Justice Devendra Kumar Arora visited Sambhal. The panel, including senior IAS officers Amit Mohan Prasad and Arvind Kumar Jain, inspected violence-affected areas and the Jama Masjid, the epicenter of the November 24 clashes. The commission’s findings are awaited, but it has already called for measures to restore peace in the area.
Opposition’s uproar against BJP
The Sambhal attack has fueled accusations of misgovernance from opposition parties, including the Congress and the Samajwadi Party. Heated debates on the issue have dominated Parliament, with the opposition blaming the BJP-led administration for failing to maintain communal harmony.
A familiar script?
Rahul and Priyanka’s actions at the Gazipur border have reignited debates over the Congress party’s approach to sensitive incidents. BJP spokespersons criticised the Gandhis for “creating unnecessary drama” and “politicising tragedy.” Meanwhile, Congress leaders maintained that their visit was motivated by compassion and a duty to stand with victims of violence.
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