Rahul Gandhi claims not allowed to visit Assamese icon Sankardeva's birthplace

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, who is presently in Assam after his 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' entered the state, on Monday claimed he was not allowed to visit Batadrava Than and has been allowed only to enter after 3 PM today.

It is to be mentioned here that Satra authorities on January 21 urged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to visit the premises only after 3 PM, however, Gandhi allegedly reached the venue beforehand.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said "We want to visit the temple (Batadrava Than). What crime have I committed that I cannot visit the temple?..."

Also Read: Congress to hold nationwide protests against alleged planned attacks on Rahul Gandhi’s Nyay Yatra in Assam

Earlier on January 21, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma urged Gandhi to reconsider his visit, coinciding 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.

The Chief Minister highlighted 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.