An FIR was registered against Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders on Tuesday after a scuffle broke out between people taking part in the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra and the Assam Police when the yatra tried to enter Guwahati city on Tuesday. Several people were injured in the incident, including Congress’s Assam chief Bhupen Borah.

“With reference to wanton acts of violence, provocation, damage to public property and assault on police personnel today by Congress members, an FIR has been registered against Rahul Gandhi, K C Venugopal, Kanhaiya Kumar and other individuals,” Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said in a post on X. The FIR was filed under several IPC sections, including those dealing with criminal conspiracy, unlawful assembly, and rioting.

Sarma had earlier said that he instructed police to register a case against Rahul Gandhi for “provoking the crowd”. Before the yatra arrived in Guwahati, Sarma had said they would not be allowed inside the city as it would cause congestion.

Assam Director General of Police G P Singh said “lawful action is being taken against such leaders and participants who instigated, led and participated in unlawful activities”.

Addressing a press conference after the incident, Rahul Gandhi said Sarma was helping the Congress by “disrupting” the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Assam.

असम में ‘भारत जोड़ो न्याय यात्रा’ को बैरिकेड लगाकर रोक दिया गया है।

‘भारत जोड़ो न्याय यात्रा’ की बुलंद आवाज से डरी-सहमी असम सरकार ऐसी कायर और शर्मनाक हरकतों से बाज नहीं आ रही।

BJP ये न भूले कि ये जनता की आवाज है, इसे किसी भी कीमत पर कुचला और दबाया नहीं जा सकता।

हमारी राह के… pic.twitter.com/q1E53exwPA

— Congress (@INCIndia) January 23, 2024

“Actually, what the Chief Minister of Assam is doing against the yatra… The yatra is benefitting (from it)… the publicity that we may not have otherwise got…the Assam Chief Minister, and perhaps with (Union Home Minister) Amit Shah behind him, is giving us…(they are) helping us…So we are benefitting. The main issue in Assam has become the yatra,” he said.

Later, he also said that cases were being filed against him because the BJP government had “fear in their hearts” as the people of Assam are “standing up against them”.

On Tuesday morning, participants of the yatra set out from Meghalaya towards Guwahati, travelling along the highway. At Khanapara, they found that the road leading into the city from the highway was barricaded by police.

The yatris who were on foot, ahead of the bus carrying Rahul Gandhi, pushed against the barricades in a confrontation with police personnel deployed there. Assam Police said its personnel had to push back at the yatris, who attempted to break through the barricades.

“The police used lathis, and I got injuries on my arms and legs. Many others were also injured,” said Naveen Kumar Paswan, a Congress worker who was part of the yatra.

State Congress chief Borah and party leader Jakir Hussain Sikdar were injured in the scuffle. Borah had also been injured two days ago in Assam’s Sonitput district when a group carrying BJP flags sought to attack vehicles that were part of the yatra.

After reaching the site of Tuesday’s incident, Rahul Gandhi addressed the Congress workers from atop the bus. “On this very road, the Bajrang Dal took out a rally earlier, (BJP president J P) Nadda ji took out a rally. But the Congress padyatra is being stopped here. There was a barricade here. We broke and threw it away, but we will not break the law. Assam’s Chief Minister may break it, the Home Minister may break it, the PM may break it, but Congress party workers will not break it.”

“But don’t think that we are weak… You are all ‘babbar sher (lions)’. Recognise your strength,” he told party workers.

At around 12.30 pm on Tuesday, the yatra continued along the highway.

These are not part of Assamese culture. We are a peaceful state. Such “naxalite tactics” are completely alien to our culture. I have instructed @DGPAssamPolice to register a case against your leader @RahulGandhi for provoking the crowd & use the footage you have posted on your… https://t.co/G84Qhjpd8h

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) January 23, 2024

The Assam DGP said the yatra had been given permission to use the highway to pass through Guwahati and reach their next destination – Hajo in Kamrup district. However, on Tuesday, participants of the yatra “insisted” on changing the route, he said.

“On being advised to stick to the ASL (advance security liaison) plan, the participants of the road event, at the instigation of senior leaders, tried to force their way by changing the route, which was resisted by Assam Police. Participants used force to break down some of the barricades, causing injury to some policemen and the general public. Sensing and seeing threat to life and property, Guwahati police used persuasion to turn the event back to the allotted route,” the DGP said.

CM Sarma lashed out at the Congress. “This is not part of Assamese culture, We are a peaceful state. Such ‘Naxalite tactics’ are completely alien to our culture… Your unruly behaviour and violation of agreed guidelines have resulted in a massive traffic jam in Guwahati now,” he said on X.

I wanted to come to your university and talk to you and understand what you’re facing.

The Home Minister of India called up the CM of Assam, and then the Assam CM’s office called up the leadership of your university and said that Rahul Gandhi must not be allowed to speak to the… pic.twitter.com/fB7Yk8fx1i

— Congress (@INCIndia) January 23, 2024

Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi said he was “prevented” from interacting with students of a private university in Meghalaya at the “instructions” of the Union Home Minister.

“I wanted to come to your university and address you, listen to you. But what happened is that the Home minister of India called up the Chief Minister of Assam and the CMO called up the leadership of the university and said that Rahul Gandhi must not be allowed to speak to the students of this university,” he told students and others from atop his yatra bus on the Assam-Meghalaya border.

In the press conference later on Tuesday, Rahul also talked about being stopped from going to Batadrava Than in Assam’s Nagaon on Monday.

“Why is Rahul ji being stopped from going to the mandir, why is Rahul ji being stopped from talking to the students…Nadda ji’s padayatra is allowed, Bajrang Dal’s padayatra is allowed… but Congress is not being allowed…,” he said.

Targeting the Assam CM, Rahul said, “There is a clear problem in this state. Number one…is that the Chief Minister of this state is one of the most corrupt chief ministers in the country. Secondly, whenever I am moving around the state…pretty much everybody is saying to me that there is massive unemployment, massive corruption, massive price rise…farmers are struggling, no youngster can get a job in the state. So that is the situation. And that is what we are raising.”

Asked whether he was concerned about his security amid “attacks” against the yatra, he said, “I don’t get intimidated. Kuch bi karo, gaali do, disrupt karo, maro, peeto (Do anything, abuse us, disrupt us, assault us), but I don’t get intimidated. I will fight for my truth…,” he said.

— With inputs from ENS, New Delhi