‘Police arrangement completely collapsed…’: Rahul Gandhi alleges security breach as Bharat Jodo Yatra cancelled in Kashmir

New Delhi: Rahul Gandhi cancelled Bharat Jodo Yatra near Qazigund in Kashmir as Congress alleged a security lapse. All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary KC Venugopal said that there was no security personnel for 15 minutes during the Yatra. Rahul Gandhi addressed the press in Anantnag and talking about security, he said that the police arrangement has completely collapsed.

आज बड़ी संख्या में लोग यात्रा में आए थे।

पर एकाएक पुलिस व्यवस्था पूरी तरह ठप्प हो गयी। मेरे सुरक्षाकर्मी मेरे आगे पैदल चलने के ख़िलाफ़ थे।

उनकी बात सुनकर मुझे अपनी यात्रा स्थगित करनी पड़ी। आशा करता हूं कि कल और परसों यात्रा के लिए उचित सुरक्षा व्यवस्था की जाएगी :@RahulGandhi जी pic.twitter.com/2B79dm9SFv

— Congress (@INCIndia) January 27, 2023

Rahul Gandhi said that the police personnel who were supposed to manage the crowd were not present there. He added that his security people were uncomfortable with him walking further, so he had to cancel the Yatra while other ‘yatris’ walked ahead.

Police arrangement completely collapsed & Police people who were supposed to manage the crowd were nowhere to be seen. My security people were very uncomfortable with me walking further on yatra so I had to cancel my yatra. Other yatris did the walk: Rahul Gandhi, in Anantnag,J&K pic.twitter.com/KJpUNjRD7e

— ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2023

Further, he said that it is important that the police manage the crowd and it is difficult for him to go against his security people’s say in such situations.

The Yatra resumed this morning from the National Highway-44 near Banihal Railway station and for Rahul Gandhi, it was cancelled as his party cited a security breach. Congress In-Charge of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, Rajani Patil shared a tweet along with a picture from the spot where he alleged to be a security lapse for 15 minutes.

J&K UT Adminstration failed to provide security to #BharatJodoYatra led by Shri @RahulGandhi .

Security lapses indicate unfair & unprepared attitude of UT adminstration. @OfficeOfLGJandK pic.twitter.com/hQoCIraZIO

— Rajani Patil (@rajanipatil_in) January 27, 2023

Earlier this month, the Congress wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah alleging ‘security breaches’ in the Yatra in the national capital. KC Venugopal alleged that the police stood as ‘mute spectators’ and there was a lapse in Rahul Gandhi’s Z+ Security. The Delhi Police and the security personnel, however, refuted the claim.

Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, which began in Kanyakumari, is in its final leg in Jammu and Kashmir.