The Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra was stopped from entering Guwahati city on Tuesday, triggering protests from Congress workers who broke barricades and raised slogans.
The police, which had set up barricades at two places to prevent the Yatra from entering the city limits, had to use force to stop the Congress workers.
Also read: Congress urges Assam Governor for judicial inquiry into attacks during yatra
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had earlier said the Yatra would not be allowed to enter the city in order to avoid traffic jams. The Yatra, which entered Meghalaya on Monday, returned to Assam for its last leg and will travel through the outskirts of the state’s largest city Guwahati.
Mr. Gandhi later addressed party supporters on the outskirts of the city, and said, “We have broken barricades, but will not break the law”.
He was earlier accorded a boisterous welcome as he tried to enter Guwahati and addressed some varsity students on the way.
Addressing supporters, he said while BJP president J.P. Nadda took the same route, they were not allowed to travel on it. “You should not think we are weak. We have broken the barricades,” he told his workers and supporters, calling them “babbar sher” (lion).
“They have cancelled my programme at the university. My programme was cancelled, but the students heard me outside,” he said.
“Congress workers do not fear anyone,” he said, adding that “we will defeat the BJP in Assam and form the Congress government soon.” He also lauded the police for doing their job well.
“We know that police officers have done a good job and followed orders, with one person coming and lying down before the (yatra) bus. We are not against you. We are against the chief minister who is most corrupt. Our fight is with him,” Gandhi said.
He said policemen were also clapping on his speech but hastened to add that they should not. “We have won as we have broken the barricades,” AICC in-charge for Assam Jitendra Singh said.
Mr. Gandhi later proceeded from the designated route on the ring road. The Yatra would be in Assam till Thursday.
