Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Lead Congress Team to Sambhal, UP Amid Violence

New Delhi, Dec 4 (NationPress) The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, with newly-elected Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and five other party MPs from Uttar Pradesh, is preparing to visit Sambhal district in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday. This visit comes in the wake of violent incidents that transpired late last month.

As announced by Uttar Pradesh Congress Chief Ajay Rai, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is also expected to join this delegation.

On Tuesday, Sambhal District Magistrate Rajendra Pensiya urged officials from adjacent districts, including Bulandshahr, Amroha, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddha Nagar, to obstruct Rahul Gandhi from entering Sambhal by stopping him at their district boundaries.

The District Magistrate sent letters to the police commissioners of Gautam Buddha Nagar and Ghaziabad, along with the superintendents of police in Amroha and Bulandshahr.

Meanwhile, during a parliamentary session, Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav accused the BJP of orchestrating a "well-planned" conspiracy behind the disturbances in Sambhal. He claimed that police personnel utilized both official and personal firearms, leading to the deaths of innocent individuals and injuring several others after locals protested against police brutality.

Congress General Secretary Avinash Pande will also accompany the party MPs, as informed by Rai to the media.

Prohibitory orders under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) have been extended until December 31, preventing any entry into Sambhal, where four individuals lost their lives and many others were injured during a court-mandated survey of a Mughal-era mosque.

On Monday, numerous Congress workers clashed with police as Rai and senior Congress leader P.L. Punia attempted to lead a fact-finding mission to Sambhal.

The police halted their vehicle at the entrance of the Congress office in Lucknow, prompting Rai and the workers to stage a protest.

Rai mentioned to reporters, "The administration informed me that prohibitory orders are effective in Sambhal until December 10. We will certainly visit once the orders are lifted. The government is fearful and attempting to conceal its failures."

Congress leaders have accused the BJP government of stifling dissent.

The Uttar Pradesh Congress posted on X, "Although the BJP government has, through conspiracy and misuse of power, prevented Congress members under the leadership of State President Shri @kashikirai ji from reaching Sambhal, we will persist in our fight against the violence that occurred due to their conspiracy! The Congress Party will unveil the BJP's conspiracy behind the violence in Sambhal and reveal its true face to the public. This state cannot function under the slogan 'batenge toh katenge'."

Sambhal has been tense since November 19, when a court-ordered survey of the Mughal-era Shahi Jama Masjid led to claims that a Harihar temple once existed at the site. Violence erupted during a second survey on November 24, resulting in clashes between protesters and security forces.

Tauqeer Ahmed, the Congress' city president in Sambhal, stated that the delegation aims to express condolences and advocate for peace.

The BJP accused the Congress and Samajwadi Party of engaging in "political tourism".

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya remarked, "If two SP goons clashed among themselves, why is Congress creating drama now?"

Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak added, "Our commitment is to uphold law and order, and we will not permit anyone to disrupt peace."

The judicial commission examining the violence visited the affected areas on Sunday.