Srinagar: Congress leader and Member Parliament Rahul Gandhi Friday accused the Jammu and Kashmir administration of a big security lapse at Jawahar Tunnel stating that police were missing to control the crowd that had come to his reception.
“When we crossed Jawahar Tunnel, there was a huge crowd for my reception. But there was not a single police man to manage or control the crowd. My security guards advised me not to go ahead,” Rahul said addressing a press conference at Khanabal, Anantnag, as per news agency KNO. “It is very difficult for me to go against what my security guards advise me.”
He said that he was hopeful that security arrangements would be elaborate for his future programs that includes his culmination rally at Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) office in Srinagar where he is supposed to unfurl the tri-colour on January 30 and address a mega rally.
Speaking on the occasion, senior Congress leader Jai Ram Ramesh said that Rahulw as supposed to walk 16 kms today but he could walk only 4 kms due to breach of security. He said that administration must ensure proper security for the Bharat Jodo Yatra in the days ahead especially when it reaches Srinagar.
He said due to the wrong policies of BJP and RSS, India as a nation is falling apart and the Yatra is an effort to bring the folks together. Ramesh said that BJY has nothing to do with the election politics as of now. “We keep on stating that there are two ways: one that of BJP and RSS and another that of Congress which is the Gandhian way.”
However, Kashmir Zone Police, in a series of tweets, said that only authorised persons as identified by organisers & frisked crowd was allowed inside towards the route of Yatra.
Only authorised persons as identified by organisers & frisked crowd was allowed inside towards the route of Yatra. Organisers & managers of BJY did not intimate about large gathering from Banihal joining the Yatra, which thronged near the starting point. (1/3)
— Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) January 27, 2023
“Organisers & managers of BJY did not intimate about large gathering from Banihal joining the Yatra, which thronged near the starting point, ” the police said.
It said that full security arrangements were in place including 15 Coys of CAPFs and 10 Coys of JKP, comprising of ROPs and QRTs, route domination, lateral deployment and SFs were deployed for high-ridge and other deployments.
“JKP was not consulted before taking any decision on discontinuation of Yatra after conducting 1 km yatra by organizers. Rest of yatra continued peacefully. There was no security lapse at all. We will provide foolproof security, ” the police said.
