1. Cultural Conflict in Assam: Rahul Gandhi faces hurdles visiting Srimanta Sankardeva’s birthplace.
2. ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’: Gandhi claims denial of access to Batadrava Than until after 3 PM.
3. Tensions rise as the revered Vaishnavite saint’s birthplace becomes a focal point in Assam.
Guwahati, Jan 22: On January 22, 2024, a significant cultural conflict unfolded in Assam as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi planned to visit Batadrava Than, the birthplace of the revered Vaishnavite saint Srimanta Sankardeva.
Rahul Gandhi, currently in Assam for his ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra,’ claimed on Monday that he was not allowed to visit Batadrava Than and had been permitted entry only after 3 PM that day.
It’s noteworthy that on January 21, Satra authorities had requested Rahul Gandhi to visit the premises only after 3 PM, but Gandhi allegedly reached the venue earlier than advised.
Expressing his frustration, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said, “We want to visit the temple (Batadrava Than). What crime have I committed that I cannot visit the temple?…”
Earlier on January 21, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma urged Gandhi to reconsider his visit, which coincided with the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
Sarma expressed concerns about potential law and order issues, particularly along sensitive routes through minority-dominated areas like Morigaon, Jagiroad, and Nellie, which Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra was set to traverse.
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The Chief Minister emphasized that there should be no perceived competition between Lord Ram and Sankardeva, both iconic figures in their respective cultural contexts.
He suggested that Gandhi could reschedule his visit to either early morning or evening to avoid any unnecessary diversion of the nation’s focus from the Ayodhya event.
Despite these requests, the Congress party indicated that Gandhi’s visit would proceed as planned.
Sarma also pointed out the logistical challenges of allowing the Yatra through Guwahati city during peak hours, citing potential disruptions to schools, colleges, and hospitals.
He emphasized the need for increased patrolling and vigilance to maintain peace and order.
The situation underscored the delicate balance between political activities and cultural sensitivities in India, where the timing and nature of such visits can carry profound symbolic weight and trigger intense public discourse.
