A tense situation erupted in Assam’s Haiboragaon on Monday after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was barred by authorities from visiting the Sri Sri Sankar Dev Satra temple in Bordua, not far from here. Gandhi along with other Congress leaders was stopped at Haiboragaon and was not allowed to go further. The former Congress chief planned to pay obeisance to the local deity before starting his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra on Monday.
Mahila Congress leaders then sat on a dharna to protest the denial of permission to Gandhi to visit the temple. A former Congress chief also joined the dharna. Authorities said Gandhi would not be allowed to visit the temple until 3:00 p.m.
Tight security, road blockade around the temple
Tight security has been put in place around the Sri Sri Sankar Dev Satra temple, deployment of huge police force and road blockade. Apart from the local MP and MLA, no Congress official was allowed to travel beyond Haiboragaon, about 20 km from the temple site. Even the media team was not allowed to travel beyond Hyboragan.
Sewa Dal Congress chief Lalji Desai said it was “shameful” that the Prime Minister and Chief Minister of Assam did not allow them to offer prayers at the temple. “This is terrible. It is unfortunate that the prime minister decides who will pray at what hour in the country,” he said.
The Congress alleged that PM Modi was putting pressure on the Assam government to prevent Gandhi from visiting the iconic saint’s birthplace and paying obeisance to him.
Gandhi told reporters that he believed in Shankardeva’s philosophy because “like him we believe in bringing people together and not in spreading hatred”. He is like a guru to us and gives us direction. So I thought that when I came to Assam, I should pay obeisance to him.
He said they received an invitation on January 11 but now “we are told there is law and order. I don’t know, there might be a reason, but when I get a chance, I will go to Batadrava. I believe that both Assam and the entire nation should follow the path shown by Sankardeva’.
Sankardeva is an Assamese saint-scholar, socio-religious reformer, poet, dramatist and a significant figure in the cultural and religious history of Assam from the 15th to the 16th century.
