Jaipur Police deployed water cannons on Wednesday, 22 July to stop a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) procession marching toward the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) headquarters in Jaipur, as both the ruling BJP and the opposition Indian National Congress (Congress) announced competing marches to each other's state offices, sharply escalating political tensions in the city.

The BJP March and Police Action

The BJP organised the march alleging that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had violated constitutional decorum during the Opposition's protest outside the Prime Minister's residence in New Delhi. BJP state president Madan Rathore led the procession, which included state office-bearers and senior leaders Shankar Agora and Rakhi Rathore, along with thousands of party workers.

As the march moved from C-Scheme toward the Congress office, police erected barricades to halt its advance. When demonstrators attempted to push through, Jaipur Police resorted to high-pressure water cannons to disperse the crowd, resulting in tense confrontations on the streets.

What the BJP Said

Addressing party workers, Rathore alleged that Gandhi and the Congress were 'repeatedly undermining democratic institutions and constitutional offices,' adding that 'the people of Rajasthan would not accept such conduct.' The BJP mobilised workers across Jaipur, with demonstrators raising slogans against the Congress throughout the march.

Congress Hits Back, Announces Counter-March

Rajasthan PCC president Govind Singh Dotasra addressed a press conference shortly after the BJP demonstration, dismissing the march as a 'sham' and describing it as an exercise in futility — invoking the idiom 'carrying coals to Newcastle.' Dotasra argued that pressing issues including examination paper leaks, alleged links between members of what he called the 'cheating mafia' and BJP office-bearers, and police action against protesting students remained unaddressed, while the BJP had chosen instead to target Gandhi.

Dotasra also noted that while Parliament's Rajya Sabha was in session, the BJP's state leadership had directed workers to stage street protests in Jaipur. He then announced that Congress workers would march to the BJP state headquarters in response to what he described as the ruling party's 'audacity despite being in the wrong.'

This announcement came a day after Congress workers, led by former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Dotasra, staged a protest in Jaipur and offered symbolic mass arrests.

Security Clampdown Across Jaipur

With both parties committed to marching to each other's offices, Jaipur Police intensified security arrangements city-wide. Heavy barricading has been erected around the BJP and Congress offices in C-Scheme, Chandpole, and MI Road. Riot-control vehicles equipped with water cannons have been stationed at key locations, drone surveillance deployed over sensitive areas, and traffic diversions implemented across parts of the city.

Police said their primary objective was to prevent workers of the two parties from coming face-to-face. With both sides showing no sign of backing down, the situation in Jaipur remains volatile heading into the evening.