Ghazipur, December 4,2024- Indian National Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, along with Priyanka Gandhi and other Congress members, was stopped by police at the Ghazipur border near the Delhi-Meerut Expressway while en route to Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh. The visit was intended to meet families affected by recent violence in Sambhal, which erupted during a controversial survey of the Shahi Jamia Masjid. Five youths reportedly died in the clashes, and the area remains under tight police surveillance with prohibitory orders in place until December 10.
The Uttar Pradesh police cited law and order concerns as the reason for stopping the convoy. In response, Congress leaders requested permission for a smaller delegation to proceed. The incident has drawn sharp criticism from the Congress party, which accused the Yogi Adityanath-led state government of bias and mishandling the situation. Rahul Gandhi also expressed his condolences to the affected families and urged for peace and communal harmony.
This event follows a broader controversy regarding the legal status of the mosque and accusations of escalatory actions by the administration. Sambhal remains tense, with ongoing efforts to stabilize the situation and prevent further unrest