The Congress on Saturday alleged that Bharatiya Janata Party activists vandalised posters and banners erected in Assam's North Lakhimpur town to commemorate the party's 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' headed by Rahul Gandhi. The Congress' state unit released a video on X (previously Twitter) showing some miscreants ripping down posters with images of Congress leaders in North Lakhimpur at night. According to the party, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's government has grown concerned as a result of the yatra's popularity.
Taking to X, the Congress stated: "@RahulGandhi Ji's #BharatJodoNyayYatra drawing thousands of cheering people in Assam has made the @himantabiswa regime restless. While CM is trying to detail the yatra by even threatening of arrests, his followers are tearing off posters & banners of the yatra.. Once again #DaroMatHimanta.. Bhoy Nokoriba."
Speaking with ANI, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said: "We will file an FIR against the goons of BJP. I want to say that the BJP government should not tarnish the image of Assam and keep their goons in their homes. The goons are troubling shopkeepers, tearing posters...such tactics will only harm them and Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra is successful and people of Assam like Rahul Gandhi."
Bharat Narah, the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) leader, claimed that posters and hoardings in the North Lakhimpur town area were vandalised on Friday night. "Never in the political history of Assam had we witnessed rival political parties damaging banners and posters of the other parties," he was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
Narah further claimed that the BJP-led state government had erected roadblocks to deter people from participating in the yatra.
"We have reports that batteries of boats were removed. Fuel depots have run dry to ensure that people cannot come with their vehicles," he said.
"But we want to tell them that nothing can prevent the success of the Yatra," the Congress leader asserted.