The Assam Police has transferred a case against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi related to a clash between party workers and police personnel during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra to the state CID.
In a post on X, Assam DGP GP Singh said a case related to “violation of various laws” during the Congress’s yatra in Guwahati on Tuesday was transferred to the CID for a “thorough and in-depth investigation through a Special Investigation Team (SIT)”.
On Tuesday, Congress workers clashed with police following the denial of permission for Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra to enter Guwahati through its main routes.
The confrontation occurred after the Assam government, led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, directed the yatra to steer clear of the city and use the Guwahati bypass instead. Police stopped the yatra from entering the city, triggering protests from Congress workers.
Visuals from the scene showed a number of Congress supporters, many of them bearing party flags, tussling with police personnel and attempting to break barricades while Rahul Gandhi looked on from a distance.
Addressing a gathering in the wake of the incident, the Gandhi scion said, “Bajrang Dal and JP Nadda Ji’s rallies were taken through this route. But they are stopping us. We, Congress workers, are strong. We have broken barricades, but will not break the law.”
Congress had planned for the yatra to pass through central Guwahati, but authorities cited potential traffic disruptions and law and order concerns as reasons for the re-route.
The decision led to a significant police presence at Khanapara crossing, the entry point to the city, where scuffles broke out between Congress supporters and law enforcement.
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday termed the police case in Guwahati against its leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, as a “political FIR” without any factual basis and said legal remedies will be explored in due course.
In a jibe at Himanta Biswa Sarma, Jairam Ramesh thanked him for getting publicity for the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra through his acts.
“It is a political FIR and not based on facts. The evidence and videos are there in front of all of you (media). We will not be scared as it is just another threat by the Assam Chief Minister,” he said.
The yatra, led by Rahul Gandhi, commenced from Manipur on January 14 and will culminate on March 20 in Mumbai.
The Assam leg of the march, which started on January 18, will continue till Thursday (January 25). It will travel 833 km in 17 districts. The yatra is scheduled to enter West Bengal today.
The yatra plans to cover 6,713 km in 67 days while passing through 110 districts in 15 states.