Bharat Jodo Yatra: The Bharat Jodo Yatra of Rahul Gandhi was scrapped today in Jammu and Kashmir as the Congress alleged “very serious security lapses” in the Kashmir Valley. Rahul Gandhi was to walk 20 km in Kashmir today but had to stop after about a km. Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, the leader of the National Conference, was with him.
As Rahul Gandhi crossed Banihal Tunnel on his way to Srinagar, a large, unexpected crowd was waiting for him, said Congress leaders. He couldn’t move for about 30 minutes, they added.
‘Police arrangement collapsed’
“Police personnel supposed to manage the crowd were nowhere to be seen. The police arrangement collapsed after we exited the tunnel. My security got uncomfortable, so we had to cancel. I had to call off my walk because I can’t go against my security people,” Rahul Gandhi told reporters later.
“It is the administration’s responsibility to guarantee crowd control,” the Congress MP added.
The Congress blamed a “sudden withdrawal of security personnel” and mismanagement of crowds by the Jammu and Kashmir. Eventually, he was taken away in a security vehicle and the party called off the yatra for the day.
“The police drove off after we crossed Banihal Tunnel,” said Congress leader KC Venugopal. “There were no police for proper security of Rahul Gandhi and Omar Abdullah. There were very serious security lapses. Rahul Gandhi was going without any security. We are very concerned about the security aspect,” Mr Venugopal said.
“Who ordered this? The authorities responsible must answer for this lapse and take steps to prevent such incidents in future.”
‘UT administration unfair’
Congress leader Rajni Patil tweeted that the administration “failed to provide security to the Bharat Jodo Yatra” and that the security lapses indicated “unfair and unprepared attitude of the UT administration”.
On Wednesday, the Yatra was halted due to poor weather and landslides.
Omar Abdullah said he joined the Yatra as he was concerned about the image of the country. “The Bharat Jodo Yatra is not aimed at improving the image of Rahul Gandhi but for improving the situation in the country,” he said and added, “We have not joined this for the image of an individual but for the image of the county.”
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