Congress workers clash with Guwahati cops after Rahul Gandhi’s yatra denied entry

Tensions flared in Guwahati on Tuesday as Congress workers clashed with police following the denial of permission for Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra to enter the city through its main routes.

The confrontation occurred after the Assam government, led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, directed the yatra to steer clear of the city and use the Guwahati bypass instead. Police stopped the yatra from entering the city, triggering protests from Congress workers.

Visuals from the scene showed a number of Congress supporters, many of them bearing party flags, tussling with police personnel and attempting to break barricades while Rahul Gandhi looked on from a distance.

Addressing a gathering in the wake of the incident, the Gandhi scion said, "Bajrang Dal and JP Nadda ji's rallies were taken through this route. But they are stopping us. We Congress workers are strong, we have broken barricades but will not break the law."

Congress had planned for the yatra to pass through central Guwahati, but authorities cited potential traffic disruptions and law and order concerns as reasons for the reroute. The decision led to a significant police presence at Khanapara crossing, the entry point to the city, where scuffles broke out between Congress supporters and law enforcement.

Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) leaders claimed that they were forced to alter their route due to being barred from entering Guwahati town.

Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to hold a press conference at Hajo at 1:20 pm to address the media regarding the incident and the yatra's progress.

The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, which has been making its way through the Northeast, has faced several roadblocks in BJP-ruled Assam. Rahul Gandhi was also denied entry to the shrine at Sankardeva's birthplace in Nagaon district

Moreover, an interactive session with students at the University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya, was cancelled after permission was withdrawn by local authorities.

The Congress has accused the Assam government of creating unnecessary obstacles for the yatra and has alleged targeted attacks against their convoys and leaders.