Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, the leader of the Bengal Congress, voiced his concern on Tuesday regarding the denial of permission by the Trinamool Congress government, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, for the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra spearheaded by Rahul Gandhi in the state. This revelation surfaced less than 24 hours before the scheduled re-entry of the yatra into the state for its second phase.
The yatra, bifurcated into two phases, wrapped up its initial leg in Bengal on Monday morning as it transitioned into Bihar. Its West Bengal segment is poised to recommence on January 31 via Malda, traversing through Murshidabad before exiting the state on February 2.
Having crossed over from Assam on January 25, the yatra encountered obstacles in securing venue permissions for its events in Malda and Murshidabad, according to Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.
Expressing his discontent, Chowdhury highlighted the denial of permission for a public gathering featuring Mallikarjun Kharge, whom Mamata Banerjee purportedly supports as the figurehead of the INDIA bloc against Modi.
Earlier grievances expressed by Chowdhury underscored the hurdles faced by the Congress in obtaining permissions for hosting public meetings as part of the yatra, citing reasons such as school examinations.
Highlighting the broader challenges faced by the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, Chowdhury mentioned hurdles encountered in the Northeast, including Assam, and now in West Bengal under the TMC's governance.
Responding to Chowdhury's assertions, Amit Malviya, the head of BJP’s IT department and co-incharge for West Bengal, interpreted Mamata Banerjee's refusal to permit Rahul Gandhi’s yatra as an attempt to belittle the Congress.
Following these developments, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge reached out to Mamata Banerjee, urging her to ensure the smooth continuation of the yatra without impediments.
Commencing in Manipur on January 14, the Bharat Jodo Yatra has grappled with obstacles throughout its journey, including permission issues in Manipur and Assam, both governed by the BJP.
On Monday, the yatra made its foray into Bihar following Nitish Kumar's withdrawal from the Mahagathbandhan alliance with the RJD, forming an NDA government. Despite this political shift, Rahul Gandhi reaffirmed the coalition's commitment to championing social justice in Bihar, asserting that the alliance's mission transcends the need for Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's involvement.
