New Delhi : Addressing from the Nyay Yatra bus in Guwahati, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged on Monday that the Home Ministry and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma intervened to deny permission for his interaction program with students in Meghalaya. Gandhi expressed his desire to engage with students, understand their challenges, and offer assistance. According to ANI, he claimed that the Home Ministry contacted the Assam CM, who, in turn, instructed the university leadership not to allow Rahul Gandhi to address the students.
Gandhi emphasized the broader implications, stating, “It is not important if Rahul Gandhi comes or does not come. What is important is that you are allowed to listen to anybody you want to listen to. This is not only happening in Assam but in every single university, college, or school in India.” He asserted his commitment to defending students’ freedom to choose and listen to diverse voices, declaring, “They want to turn you into slaves, but I know that nobody, no power in the universe can do it.”
The Congress leader had planned interactions with students, civil society members, and party leaders at the University of Science and Technology in Ri Bhoi district, Meghalaya. The ongoing Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, of which Gandhi is a part, faced opposition from the Assam government, leading to a war of words between Rahul Gandhi and Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma. Heavy security measures are in place as the yatra re-enters Assam, and the government has advised using the national highway to avoid traffic congestion in Guwahati. On Monday, Gandhi was prevented from visiting the birthplace of Vaishnav saint Srimanta Sankardeva and was directed to visit the temple after the Ayodhya pran pratishtha.
