The Aryavarth Express
Agency (Malda): Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has alleged that Rahul Gandhi’s vehicle was attacked with stones in Malda, West Bengal. Gandhi, a Lok Sabha member and former Congress president, was participating in the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra when the incident occurred. According to Chowdhury, the attack happened amidst a crowd, with someone targeting Gandhi’s vehicle.
Social media visuals showed the rear windscreen of Gandhi’s vehicle, the Wayanad MP, shattered during the yatra in Malda, an area traditionally seen as a Congress stronghold. Speaking to reporters, Chowdhury expressed concern about the incident, noting that while it might seem minor, it could have resulted in injuries.
This incident is not the first allegation of hostility towards the Congress’ Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, especially in West Bengal, where the Trinamool Congress (TMC) holds power. Chowdhury previously claimed that the yatra faced challenges in both BJP-ruled states and in Mamata Banerjee-led Bengal.
He recounted several instances where the yatra reportedly faced obstacles, including in Manipur, where Rahul Gandhi was allegedly not allowed to hold a public meeting as planned, and in Assam, where the yatra was reportedly attacked by police. In West Bengal, the Congress claimed they were denied permission for a meeting in Siliguri.
The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, which started in Imphal on January 14, is scheduled to conclude in Mumbai on March 20. This incident in Malda adds to the series of challenges the Congress claims to have faced during this nationwide campaign.
The attack on Rahul Gandhi’s vehicle in Malda highlights the tense political atmosphere and the challenges faced by political figures during campaign trails, raising concerns about safety and freedom of political expression.