Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi and newly elected Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were stopped by Uttar Pradesh police on their way to riot-affected Sambhal on December 4. The Gandhis were stopped at the Ghazipur border between New Delhi and Noida. UP police rejected the Congress convoy’s request and put up roadblocks at the border, causing heavy traffic jams.
According to reports, prohibitory orders are also in place and BNS Section 163 (previously CrPC Section 144) has been enforced in Sambhal.
Violence hit Sambhal in November following a court-ordered survey of the Mughal-era Shahi Jama Masjid. The court has ordered the survey in response to a petition by Supreme Court lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain who claimed that the mosque stands on the site of a Hindu temple called Harihar Mandir, according to India Today. Vishnu also reportedly claimed that the temple had been demolished by Mughal ruler Babur in 1529. Clashes broke out on November 24–the day of the survey. Three men, identified as Naeem, Bilal, and Noman were killed in police firing.
On December 4, at the Gazipur border Rahul and the Congress’ General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal attempted to hold talks with UP police, but were reportedly rebuffed. According to Business Standard, authorities in Sambhal alerted neighbouring districts to prevent the Congress convoy from entering the state. Sambhal’s district magistrate reportedly wrote to officials in Bulandshahr, Amroha, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddha Nagar, directing them to stop the Gandhis at the border and also to closely monitor Rahul’s movements.
According to Hindustan Times, Rahul said in the midst of talks with police, “I am ready to go alone, I am ready to go with the police, but they did not accept that either. They are saying that if we come back in a few days then they will let us go. This is against the rights of the LoP and against the Constitution. We just want to go to Sambhal and see what happened there, we want to meet the people. My constitutional right is not being given to me. This is the new India, this is the India to end the Constitution. This is the India to end Ambedkar's Constitution. We will keep fighting.”
After a two-hour deadlock, the Congress abandoned its visit, but reports say the party plans to try again on December 5.