“BJP-RSS busy tearing Constitution to shreds…”: Kharge after Rahul-Priyanka stopped from visiting Sambhal

New Delhi [India], December 4 (ANI): Congress President, Mallikarjun Kharge lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi and MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were stopped at the Ghazipur border on their way to violence-hit Sambhal.

Criticising the “divisive agenda” of BJP-RSS, Kharge said they are “hell-bent” on destroying the Places of Worship Act

In a post on X Kharge said, “BJP-RSS is busy tearing the Constitution to shreds with its divisive agenda. Preventing the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Shri @RahulGandhi from visiting the victim families in Sambhal proves it.”

“Creating hatred between two communities is the only ideology of BJP-RSS. For this, they not only destroying the Places of Worship Act passed by the Constitution, but now they are hell-bent on opening branches of their market of hate everywhere,” he added in the post.

Kharge also emphasised over Congress party’s ‘commitment’ to promote peace and brotherhood.

“The Congress Party will continue to open the shop of harmony, peace, brotherhood, goodwill and love, and will keep the society united on the lines of unity in diversity. We will not bow down; we will not retreat!”

While Rahul Gandhi himself criticised the BJP for blocking his scheduled visit to Sambhal stating that visiting Sambhal was his constitutional duty and described the restrictions placed on him as “unconstitutional.”

The Congress leader also shared a video showing his interaction with a police officer.

“We are trying to go to Sambhal, but the police are refusing to allow us. As Leader of the Opposition, it is my right to visit, yet they are stopping me. I am ready to go alone or even under police escort, but they have rejected that as well. They claim we can return in a few days, but this violates the rights of the Leader of the Opposition and the Constitution. We simply want to visit Sambhal, meet the people, and understand what has happened. Denying this right reflects the state of ‘New India,’ an India undermining the Constitution and Ambedkar’s vision. We will continue to fight,” Rahul Gandhi said.

The violence in Sambhal erupted on November 24 during an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) examination of a Mughal-era mosque. The clashes resulted in four fatalities and multiple injuries among police personnel and locals.

The ASI survey was prompted by a petition filed in a local court, claiming the mosque was originally built on the site of a Harihar temple.