‘Am I going to disturb law and order? Ready to go alone!’ says Rahul Gandhi

In a heated verbal exchange at the Ghazipur border on Wednesday, 4 December, Rahul Gandhi was stopped by the police while he and other Congress leaders were en route Sambhal.

The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha as well as new Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were among those scheduled to travel to the conflict-ridden district and meet the families of victims who recently died in police action. The Uttar Pradesh police, however, cited prohibitory orders in the district as the reason for denying them entry. (Notably, this was the first Uttar Pradesh district on the route — and at least four districts from the affected zone where the order against 'outsiders' applies.)

Speaking at the border, Gandhi expressed his angst, stating, “As the Leader of the Opposition, it is my constitutional right to visit. I should have been allowed.”

A video shared by the Congress showed Gandhi questioning the police officers about the denial of entry. “On what basis are you stopping me?” he asked.

When an officer cited "law and order" concerns, Gandhi shot back, “Am I going to disturb law and order?”

He further offered to travel alone under police supervision, but the authorities refused to relent.

'I am ready to go alone, but they did not agree to that either. This is against the Constitution. Why is the BJP scared — why is it using the police to hide its failures? Why is it suppressing the message of truth and brotherhood?' he wrote on X in Hindi.

New Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who was accompanying her brother, emphasised the constitutional position on the situation. “Rahul-ji is in a constitutional post and has the right to meet the victims' families. This is unjust,” she said.

'The BJP is afraid of the voice of justice. The BJP is afraid of humanity and love. The BJP is afraid of brotherhood and unity. The BJP wants to barricade every message of love to save its 'market of hate'. But neither will the message of love be held back, nor the voice of truth suppressed,' she posted on X in Hindi.

The Congress party criticised the police action as a violation of democratic rights, arguing that Gandhi’s visit was intended to provide solace to the affected families in Sambhal. Prohibitory orders under Section 144, which restrict large gatherings, were reportedly in place in the district following recent unrest.

"Rahul-ji’s motto has been ‘nafrat ke bazaar mein mohabbat ki dukaan [peddling love in the market of hate]’. And when the ruling regime has created an atmosphere of hatred, it is our duty as the opposition to bring in compassion, empathy and love. We are determined to meet the victims’ families in the interest of peace and communal harmony in our country. The Uttar Pradesh government must allow the delegation to visit Sambhal," said K.C. Venugopal.

This incident marks yet another clash between the Congress and the BJP at the Centre and in this state, with the principal opposition party accusing the government(s) of stifling dissent and restricting opposition leaders from reaching out to citizens in distress. (The Samajwadi Party has met a similar fate, with similar complaints, in addition to charges laid against its members in Sambhal.)