Awantipora: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has written to Home minister Amit Shah about the ‘security lapse’ in Bharat Jodo Yatra Friday.
In his letter, which Kharge also shared on Twitter, he has requested Shah to “personally intervene” and advise the concerned officers to provide “adequate security”. The letter comes a day after Rahul Gandhi had to abandon his yatra when it entered the Kashmir Valley, due to the lapse.
In Qazigund, owing to a crowd larger than expected, Gandhi’s security was breached. Following the breach, Gandhi said at a press conference, “This morning, quite a large crowd had gathered and we were looking forward to walking on the Bharat Jodo Yatra and unfortunately, police arrangements completely collapsed. And the police people who were supposed to manage the crowd and hold the ropes were nowhere to be seen. My security people were very uncomfortable with me walking further. I had to cancel my walk but other yatris did the walk. It’s important that the police manage the crowd, so we can do the yatra.”
Kharge’s letter said, “We appreciate the Jammu and Kashmir Police and welcome their statement that they will continue to ensure complete security till the culmination of the yatra.”
Security lapse during #BharatJodoYatra led to its suspension yesterday, after Sh @RahulGandhi’s security detail suggested same.
We are expecting a huge gathering, including leaders of imp political parties at its culmination.
My letter to @HMOIndia,Sh @AmitShah in this regard — pic.twitter.com/jjASG8C5LR
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) January 28, 2023
About the large crowd gathering, Kashmir Police said that the yatra organisers and managers “did not intimate” them about a large gathering joining from Banihal. It also said that the police weren’t consulted before taking any decision on discontinuation of the march after conducting 1 km of the yatra.
Only authorised persons as identified by organisers & frisked crowd was allowed inside towards the route of Yatra. Organisers & managers of BJY did not intimate about large gathering from Banihal joining the Yatra, which thronged near the starting point. (1/3)
— Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) January 27, 2023
However, Kharge wrote, “It is difficult for organizers to tell exactly how many people are expected over the day as it is a spontaneous gesture of the common people to join the yatra.”
He added, “I shall be grateful if you could personally intervene in this matter and advise the concerned officials to provide adequate security till the culmination of yatra and the function on the 30th January at Srinagar.”
It is worth noting that after Gandhi left in a car, the rest of the yatra continued on foot.
Former Jammu & Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti also joined the yatra Saturday in Awantipora. Sunday is the last day when the yatra walks into Srinagar. The 3,500-km yatra began in Kanyakumari 7 September and will culminate with a rally in Srinagar on 30 January.
(Edited by Smriti Sinha)
Also read: Return of the Muslim: From Modi ‘sermon’ to Pathaan to Bharat Jodo Yatra