Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi stopped by police at UP Gate amid Sambhal visit attempt

GHAZIABAD: A cavalcade led by Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and other Congress leaders who were on their way to violence-hit Sambhal was stopped at UP Gate by police. Hundreds of Congress workers who accompanied their leaders raised anti-govt slogans as the two leaders could be seen arguing with cops to allow their cavalcade to pass.
“We handed over a notice to Rahul Gandhi which stated that under BNS section 163, prohibitory orders are in place, and they would not be allowed to proceed to Sambhal,” said a senior police officer. Congress spokesperson Supriya Srinet, who was accompanying them, later said, “The govt has something to hide, and so they are not allowing us to pass. How can they stop the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha? This is unconstitutional, and the issue will be raised in Parliament.”
“Rahul Ji even offered to go alone under the supervision of police, but even then he was not allowed, which just goes on to prove how this govt is muzzling the opposition,” added Srinet. Since morning, there was heavy deployment of police at the Delhi border as UP police barricaded the NH9/DME from Delhi to Hapur side in anticipation of the publicised visit. The standoff at UP Gate between police and Congress workers led to a traffic jam on the Delhi-Hapur side of DME/NH9, necessitating traffic diversion.
There was a long tail of traffic of about 6 km till Gazipur Murga Mandi as hundreds of commuters were stuck in the jam. Piyush Singh, ADCP Traffic, said, “Due to heavy traffic, we have diverted the vehicles from UP Gate towards Mohan Nagar via Kaushambi. After reaching Mohan Nagar, people will go to their destination.”
“I avoided the Noida route because of the farmer agitation; little did I know that taking the UP Gate route would also lead to the same situation,” said Sanjay Mishra, who was on his way to Lal Kuan.