'Ahankaracharya Doesn't Want...': Congress Blames PM Modi After Rahul Denied Entry At Assam Shrine

The Congress blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi after Rahul Gandhi was denied permission to visit Batadrava Than, the birthplace of revered Vaishnavite saint Srimanta Sankardeva, in Assam.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh addresses a press conference in Assam on Monday.

Source : X/@INCIndia

The Congress and the Assam Government on Monday found themselves at loggerheads over the visit of Rahul Gandhi to the Batadrava Than, the birthplace of revered Vaishnavite saint Srimanta Sankardeva. The standoff escalated as the Wayanad MP was denied permission to visit the temple situated in Nagaon. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleged political interference, raising questions about the restrictions imposed on the visit.

Jairam Ramesh, during a press conference, took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said, "The 'Ahankaracharya' does not want the country's eyes to be on any other subject than what is happening today (Ayodhya Ram Temple event). We sat near the barricade for two hours and when Gaurav Gogoi and Shivamani Barua returned from Bordova police station, we left from there. We regret that due to these reasons we could not cover pre-planned yatra route in the morning."

देश के 'अहंकराचार्य' नहीं चाहते कि देश की निगाहें किसी और विषय पर हों।

हम 2 घंटे तक बैरिकेड के पास बैठे रहे और जब गौरव गोगोई जी और शिवामणि बरुआ जी बोरदोवा थान से वापस आए तो हम वहां से निकले।

हमें खेद है कि इन कारणों से हम सुबह यात्रा नहीं कर पाए।

: कांग्रेस महासचिव (संचार)… pic.twitter.com/zS9aCpROnV

— Congress (@INCIndia) January 22, 2024

Earlier in a post on social media platform X, he invoked the phrase "Chronology Samajhiye" (Understand the chronology) in reference to an old remark by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. According to Ramesh, the temple head initially welcomed Rahul Gandhi's visit during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, scheduled for January 22nd. However, Assam Chief Minister's sudden announcement on January 20th restricting the visit to after 3 pm raised eyebrows.

"On January 11, 2024, local Congress MLA Shibomani Barua and MLA Rana Goswami met the Bordowa Than Satradhikar, who welcomed and supported Rahul Gandhi's desire to visit the sacred place. Even the local MP, Gaurav Gogoi, reiterated the desire, and again it was welcomed and supported," stated Jairam Ramesh.

Chronology samjhiye:

1. On Jan 11, 2024, the local Congress MLA Shibomani Barua and another MLA Rana Goswami met the Bordowa Than Satradhikar and informed him of Rahul Gandhi's desire to spend a few minutes in the early hours of January 22nd during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra at… https://t.co/br8PjHxwIo

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) January 22, 2024

The senior Congress leader further alleged that the Assam Chief Minister pressurised the temple head, who, in turn, had received instructions from Delhi. "The Bordowa Than Management Committee was pressurised by the Assam CM into taking the decision it did, who in turn has been instructed from Delhi," claimed Ramesh.

Highlighting the unusual negotiations required for the local MP and MLA to visit the temple, Jairam Ramesh expressed his concern, stating, "It is unprecedented that the local MP and local MLA had to negotiate their visit when they should have been able to move about freely in their constituency."

Rahul Gandhi, upon reaching Batadrava Than on Monday, expressed disappointment over being denied permission to enter the shrine. Taking a veiled dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he questioned, "What crime have I committed that I cannot visit the temple?" Gandhi emphasised the importance of his desire to visit the temple, stating, "I want to go to the temple, what is wrong with this?" 

Meanwhile, Congress workers staged a protest at the site, adding to the escalating tension between the Congress and the Assam Government. Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra is currently progressing through its Assam leg.

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