Guwahati, 22nd January: Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh accused the BJP-led government of preventing Rahul Gandhi’s visit to the revered Batadrava Shrine, dedicated to Vaishnavite Saint Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardeva, in Nagaon, Assam. The denial unfolded during Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, a significant outreach program by the Congress party.
Ramesh outlined a sequence of events leading to the denial, suggesting a deliberate clash of schedules. Initially, local Congress MLAs conveyed Gandhi’s wish to visit the temple on January 22nd, and the temple head welcomed the request. However, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma later announced Gandhi could only visit after 3 pm on the same day, coinciding with the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Lord Ram in Ayodhya.
Ramesh alleged that the temple management committee was pressured by the Assam CM, acting under instructions from Delhi. Despite earlier approval, the Satradhikar stated on January 21st that due to expected crowds, Gandhi should postpone his visit to after 3 pm. This sudden change led to a sit-in protest by Gandhi, questioning the motives behind the restriction. Ramesh accused the BJP of playing politics and preventing the Congress visit to Batadrava Than.
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