“What Mistake I Have Done That I Am Not Allowed”: Rahul Gandhi On Being Denied Temple Entry In Assam

Nagaon (Assam), January 22: In an unprecedented move, the Assam Police, “on the obvious instructions of the Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma”, as claimed by Congress, today stopped and prevented senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi from performing Darshan and paying obeisance at the Batadrava Than, the birthplace of saint Sri Sri Sankardev, in Hainoragaon near here.

This was done despite the managing committee already having granted permission to Mr Gandhi to visit the temple.

Mr Gandhi was then compelled to sit on the road in protest. He was not allowed to proceed to Batadrava Than at Nagaon, for which permission was earlier granted.

“But it was revoked late last night, apparently at the behest of the Assam CM,” Congress said in a statement.

Mr Gandhi tried to argue with the police asking, “what is the issue brother? Can I go and see the barricades? What mistake I have done that I am not allowed inside the temple?”.

He said, “we are trying to go to the temple. We were invited and now they are telling us that we can’t visit,” he said, while adding, “we are not going to do anything forcibly. We have to do our yatra, we are asking them what is the reason? We are not going to disturb anybody. We have been invited there”.

Condemning the incident, Congress general secretary in charge organisation K C Venugopal said, “today the BJP stopped Rahul ji from going to Batadrava Satra, despite prior permission. We have entered a new phase of democracy where the BJP will decide who should go to a temple and at what time”.

“This dictatorial regime must realise that its days are numbered. People of India will not allow such authoritarianism”, he said, adding,”we will not budge till we are allowed to bow before Sri Sri Srimanta Sankardev”.

Giving the chronology of events, Congress general secretary in charge Communications Jairam Ramesh said, on January 11, 2024, the local Congress MLA Shibamoni Bora and another MLA Rana Goswami met the Batadrawa Than Satradhikar and informed him of Rahul Gandhi’s desire to spend a few minutes in the early hours of January 22nd during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra at the hallowed birthplace of Sri Sri Sankardev. This desire was welcomed and supported by the Satradhikar, he added.

He said, a few days later, Gaurav Gogoi the local MP, also met with the Batadrawa Than Satradhikar and reiterated Rahul Gandhi’s desire and again, this desire was welcomed and supported.

However, Ramesh added, on January 20th evening, the Assam CM suddenly announced that Rahul Gandhi cannot visit the Batadrawa Than on the morning of January 22nd and could do so only after 3 pm the same day.
He said, on the morning of January 21st, the Satradhikar made a statement that because of huge crowds expected at the Than on the morning of January 22nd, Rahul Gandhi should visit the holy place after 3pm.

Congress general secretary observed, it is obvious that the Batadrawa Than Management Committee was pressurised by the Assam CM into taking the decision it did, who in turn has been instructed from Delhi.

Later Gaurav Gogoi, on behalf of Gandhi visited the birthplace of Saint Sri Sri Sankardeva.