Rahul’s security breached in Delhi, ensure his safety for rest of Yatra, Congress tells Centre

Congress also pointed out that the Intelligence Bureau was interrogating Yatra participants, with the aim to discourage public interest in the party's countrywide outreach march.

BSP MP Shyam Singh Yadav (grey hair) walks along with Rahul Gandhi at Bharat Jodo Yatra | Photo: Suraj Singh Bisht | ThePrint

New Delhi: The Congress has demanded immediate and adequate security for leader Rahul Gandhi for the upcoming Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir legs of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, and also pointed out that the Intelligence Bureau has harassed people who have participated in the party’s countrywide outreach march.

In a letter to the Union Home Ministry, Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal said there had been “significant security breaches” on 24 December when the Yatra entered Delhi. “…the Delhi police completely failed in controlling the surging crowd and maintaining a perimeter around Shri Rahul Gandhi, who is assigned Z+ security. The situation was so severe that the Congress workers and the Bharat Yatris walking along with Shri Rahul Gandhi had to form the perimeter. At the same time, the Delhi Police remained as mute spectators.”

Congress writes to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and requests him "to take immediate steps to ensure the safety and security of Rahul Gandhi and of all the Bharat Yatris and leaders joining Bharat Jodo Yatra" pic.twitter.com/tCsbyh9D6J

— ANI (@ANI) December 28, 2022

The letter added: “Furthermore, to harass participants and prevent eminent personalities from joining the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Intelligence Bureau is interrogating many people who participated in the Bharat Jodo Yatra.”

Venugopal also said the party had filed an FIR on 23 December in Sohna, Haryana, alleging that “unknown miscreants” belonging to the state intelligence had illegally entered Bharat Jodo Yatra’s containers when they were passing through.

The letter said Article 19 of the Constitution gave every citizen the right to assemble and move freely in India. “Bharat Jodo Yatra is a Padyatra to bring peace and harmony to the country. The government should not indulge in vindictive politics and ensure the safety and security of the Congress leaders,” the letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah said.

Last Tuesday, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya had asked Rahul Gandhi to suspend the Yatra in case Covid protocols could not be followed.

The Congress then charged the government with selectively picking on the Yatra, pointing out that Covid concerns were raised by BJP MPs and not by experts or scientists.