PM exerted pressure on Assam govt to prevent Rahul from visiting Sankardeva birthplace: Jairam Ramesh

Nagaon (Assam): Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Monday claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi exerted pressure on the Assam government to prevent Rahul Gandhi from visiting the birthplace of Vaishnav saint Srimant Sankardeva to pay his obeisance.

Gandhi was prevented from visiting the venue and stopped at Haiborgaon where he along with senior Congress leaders, party workers and supporters have sat on a dharna.

The managing committee of Sri Sankardeva Sattra on Sunday had announced that they will not allow the Congress leader to visit the sattra before 3pm on January 22 after Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had earlier in the day said at a press conference that he requested Gandhi not to visit before the consecration of Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

''We were given permission to visit the Sattra on January 11. But suddenly on January 20, we were told that Gandhi can visit only after the consecration of Ram temple'', he said.

It is clear that ''the arrogant powers want the entire focus of the camera on them and pressure was exerted on the Assam government to take this step'', he said.

''After the authorities had told Rahulji that there could be a law and order problem, he (Gandhi) offered to go alone but this, too, was refused. It is clear that it is their deliberate policy to prevent him from going to the holy place which occupies a place of social, cultural and religious importance for all'', Ramesh said.

The authorities said there are many Ram Bhakts in the Bardrava sattra premises and there could be a law and order situation but ''we assured them that no one except Rahulji will go'', he said.

Following this a lot of phone calls were made by the authorities and Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi and local Congress MLA Sibamoni Bora were allowed to proceed to the sattra to talk with the members of the managing committee to resolve the issue and ensure Gandhi's visit to the sacred place.

''Gandhi will continue to stage the dharna till Gogoi and Bora return from the sattra'', he said.

The managing committee has said they can visit after 3pm but ''what guarantee is there that Himanta Biswa Sarma will say at 2:30 pm that due to law and order situation, he will not be allowed to visit at all'', the Congress general secretary said.

The yatra will continue on its usual route after the issue is resolved, Ramesh added.

Dharna by Congress workers and Rahul Gandhi

Mahila Congress leaders subsequently sat on a dharna to protest against denial of permission to Gandhi to visit the temple. The former Congress chief also joined the dharna.

Rahul Gandhi questioned the police on why he was being stopped from visiting the temple.

"Will PM Modi now decide who will visit a temple and when," Gandhi said.

"We do not want to create any problems, simply pray at the temple," Gandhi told the police authorities.

Tight security arrangements, deployment of a huge police force and blockade of roads was in force around the Sri Sri Sankar Dev Satra temple.

Barring the local MP and MLA, no Congress leader was allowed to travel beyond Haiboragaon, around 20 km from the temple spot. Even the media team was not allowed to travel beyond Haiboragaon.

Congress Sewa Dal chief Lalji Desai said it was "shameful" that the prime minister and Assam chief minister were not allowing them to pray at the temple.

"This is atrocious. It is unfortunate that the prime minister will decide who will pray at what time in the country," he said.

"Till the time the prime minister does pooja (in Ayodhya), no one is allowed to pray anywhere," Desai claimed.

"There is no 'loktantra' (democracy) here and the government will decide when people will pray at temples," he said.

(Inputs from PTI)