NEW DELHI: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking his intervention in ensuring adequate security to the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir.
His letter to Shah comes after the Yatra was suspended for the afternoon session on Friday following a “security lapse”, with the Congress alleging that the J and K Police had withdrawn security around its leader Rahul Gandhi in the wake of surging crowds during the foot march in Qazigund.
“We are expecting a huge gathering to join the yatra over the next two days and also the function that will be held on January 30 at Srinagar. Many senior Congress leaders and leaders of other important political parties are attending the culmination function.
“I shall be grateful if you could personally intervene in the matter and advise the officials concerned to provide adequate security till the culmination of the yatra and the function,” the Congress president said in a letter to the home minister.
He said he is writing after the “unfortunate security lapse” during the Yatra.
On the advice of the security officials in charge of the security detail of Rahul Gandhi, the Yatra had to be suspended, Kharge said.
“We appreciate Jammu and Kashmir Police and welcome their statement saying they will continue to ensure complete security till the culmination of the journey,” he said.
However, the leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha also said, “You will appreciate the fact that a large crowd of common people has joined and walked in the Bharat Jodo Yatra every day. It is difficult for the organisers to tell exactly how many people are expected over the day as it is a spontaneous gesture of the common people to join the yatra.”