Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday claimed that the “body double” allegedly used by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during the 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' in the state has been “identified” and details will be revealed later. Speaking at a press conference, Sarma further claimed that the "body double" left the yatra midway after a media outlet reported about his presence, creating a controversy.


According to the agency PTI, the Chief Minister said, "We have identified the body double, which was used by Rahul Gandhi during the padyatra. We have now confirmed that during most of the roadshows, Rahul was not cheering the crowd. His body double was cheering the crowd."


Sarma said he will call a press meeting on the issue and reveal the identity and other details of the "body double" once Prime Minister Narendra Modi leaves the state, after completing his two-day trip, beginning Saturday. "After they (media outlet) exposed and uploaded the photograph, that person quietly left Assam from Guwahati airport to Delhi without participating in the last leg (of the yatra)," he added, as quoted by PTI.


Between January 18 and January 25, when the 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' journeyed through Assam, Gandhi and Sarma clashed multiple times. Sarma, who is also in charge of the home portfolio, continued by saying that two cases—one in Jorhat and one in Guwahati—were filed in Assam in relation to the Congress march.


The Congress had been allegedly denied permissions throughout its run in the state and the issue escalated when party leaders and workers smashed through police barricades in Guwahati after they were allegedly "prevented" from entering the city.


An FIR was registered against Rahul Gandhi and others over the Guwahati incident,  Later, Sarma said that the Wayanad MP would be detained following the Lok Sabha elections since he did not want to "politicise" the matter before the elections. A second police report was filed against the yatra organisers for reportedly going off the approved path within Jorhat town, resulting in a "chaotic situation" nearby.


The Jorhat Police issued notices to the accused persons and some have even been questioned.


Further on underlining the interrogation, he said, "For the Guwahati case, we have formed an SIT, which has already started work. The Jorhat case is being investigated in the normal way" , as per PTI.


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