Guwahati, 22nd January: A significant cultural conflict unfolded in Assam on January 22, 2024, as Rahul Gandhi, the Congress leader, planned a visit to Batadrava Than, the birthplace of the revered Vaishnavite saint Srimanta Sankardeva.
Rahul Gandhi, currently in Assam for his ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra,’ claimed on Monday that he was not allowed to visit Batadrava Than and was permitted entry only after 3 PM the same day.
Satra authorities had earlier urged Rahul Gandhi to visit the premises after 3 PM, but he allegedly reached the venue earlier than the suggested time.
Expressing his desire to visit the temple, Rahul Gandhi questioned, “What crime have I committed that I cannot visit the temple?”
On January 21, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma urged Rahul Gandhi to reconsider his visit, coinciding with the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
Sarma expressed concerns about potential law and order issues along sensitive routes through minority-dominated areas like Morigaon, Jagiroad, and Nellie, which Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra was set to traverse.
Highlighting the iconic status of both Lord Ram and Srimanta Sankardeva, Sarma suggested rescheduling Gandhi’s visit to either early morning or evening to avoid unnecessary diversion of the nation’s focus from the Ayodhya event. Despite these requests, the Congress party indicated that Gandhi’s visit would proceed as planned.
Sarma also pointed out the logistical challenges of allowing the Yatra through Guwahati city during peak hours, citing potential disruptions to schools, colleges, and hospitals. He emphasized the need for increased patrolling and vigilance to maintain peace and order.
The situation underscores the delicate balance between political activities and cultural sensitivities in India, where the timing and nature of such visits can carry profound symbolic weight and trigger intense public discourse.
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