Rahul Gandhi Sambhal visit: LoP heads back to Delhi after being stopped by police at Ghazipur border

Sambhal violence: Tension had been brewing in Sambhal since November 19, when a Mughal-era mosque was surveyed on court orders following claims that a Harihar temple previously stood at the site.

Sambhal violence: A Congress delegation led by the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi headed back to Delhi after being stopped by police at the Ghazipur border. Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka had planned to visit the violence-hit Sambhal on Wednesday but the police and administration stopped them before reaching the district.

Ready to go alone to Sambhal with police but not allowed: Rahul Gandhi

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, who was stopped at the Ghazipur border, said he was ready to go alone to Sambhal with police but was not allowed.

"As the leader of the opposition, it is my constitutional right. I should have been allowed," he said. 

The Congress' Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who was accompanying Rahul Gandhi, said, "Rahul ji is on a constitutional post and has the constitutional right. He should be allowed to meet the victims' families."

Prohibitory orders, including a ban on the entry of outsiders, were in place in Sambhal. Last week on Saturday (November 30), several Samajwadi Party (SP) MPs were stopped from entering the district. Curbs under Section 163 (power to issue an order in urgent cases of nuisance or apprehended danger) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which were set to expire on Sunday, have now been extended till December 31 (Tuesday) in Sambhal.

Sambhal DM writes letter to police commissioners of Gautam Buddh Nagar, Ghaziabad to stop Rahul Gandhi 

Sambhal District Magistrate Rajendra Pensia on Tuesday wrote a letter to the police commissioners of Gautam Buddh Nagar and Ghaziabad and the superintendents of police of Amroha and Bulandshahr districts, urging them to stop Gandhi at the borders of their districts keeping in mind the communal sensitivity of Sambhal. The Sambhal DM addressed the letter to the Police Commissioners of Gautam Buddha Nagar and Ghaziabad, along with the Superintendents of Police (SP) of Amroha and Bulandshahr.

"On November 24, a remaining survey was conducted, following which members of the Muslim community staged massive protests involving gunfire, stone-pelting, and arson. As a result, the situation in Sambhal district has become extremely sensitive. Until December 10, the entry of any external individuals, social organisations, or public representatives into Sambhal district is restricted without prior approval from the competent authority. Prohibitory orders have been issued under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023," the Sambhal DM stated.

Meanwhile, massive traffic snarl witnessed at the Ghazipur border on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway.

Congress delegation to visit Sambhal 

Gandhi will be accompanied by five other Congress MPs from Uttar Pradesh. Newly-elected Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is also likely to be part of the delegation.

Congress delegation to be served notice if they come here: Sambhal SP 

On Gandhi's visit, Superintendent of Police (SP) of Sambhal Krishan Kumar told media that if the Congress delegation comes, it will be served a notice as Section 163 of the BNSS is in force in Sambhal and no outsider is allowed.

"Police are citing BNS 163 in their missive. So we will insist that they allow at least 4 people. If stopped, we will push for allowing Rahul ji, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra ji, UP incharge Avinash Pande ji and myself to enter," Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai told media.

Gandhi is expected to leave Delhi at around 10:00 am for Sambhal and visit the families of those killed in the November 24 violence. After meeting the families, Gandhi will return to Delhi by road, according to his itinerary.

Violence erupted during a second survey on November 24 as protesters gathered near Shahi Jama Masjid and clashed with security personnel. Four people were killed in the violence and many more were injured.