GUWAHATI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Assam has filed a case against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of inciting violence and employing “Naxalite tactics” to disturb peace in Guwahati.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, on Tuesday, directed the Director General of Police (DGP) to file a criminal case under relevant sections of the IPC against Gandhi.
Sarma, in a post on social media website, stated that investigations have been initiated into the clash between security forces and Congress workers at Khanapara on Tuesday morning. “These are not part of Assamese culture. We are a peaceful state. Such “naxalite tactics” are completely alien to our culture…” he wrote.
Later speaking to the press, the Chief Minister said, “Rahul was inciting the mob standing near his vehicle. Hence, we have filed a criminal case against him. The police will take appropriate measures based on investigation and inquiries. We will arrest him after the Lok Sabha elections.”
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Earlier in the day, a clash broke out between security forces and Congress workers as Gandhi, leading the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra from Meghalaya, attempted to enter Guwahati from Meghalaya at Khanapara.
As the initial confrontation turned violent, with reports of barricades put up by Assam police being broken during a scuffle, the police resorted to a lathi-charge that left several Congress members injured, including Assam Pradesh Congress Committee chief Bhupen Bora and MLA Zakir Hussain Sikdar.
“Assam CM, the Union Home Minister, and the PM can break the rules, but we (Congress) would never do such a thing. However, this doesn’t mean that we are weak. Congress workers are ‘Babbar Sher’,” he said before the clash broke out.
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“Evidence is coming out of how Rahul Gandhi and Jitendra Singh instigated the mob to attack the Assam Police personnel. Our jawans are public servants, not of any royal family. Rest assured, the long hands of the law will undoubtedly reach you,” Chief Sarma posted on a micro-blogging website thereafter.
Meanwhile, protests by Congress workers have been reported from Lakhimpur and Arunachal Pradesh’s Itanagar, condemning the alleged attack on APCC Chief Bora on January 22.
The Lakhimpur unit of Congress took out a rally against the alleged attack, while members of Arunachal Pradesh Youth Congress burned effigies of the Assam Chief Minister, on Tuesday.
