Sri Nagar: Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi resumed his ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ from Awantipora in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district this morning.
A day earlier, the party had temporarily halted the yatra in Anantnag district following allegations of security lapses.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police, however, said the Organisers had not consulted the Congress before taking any decision on stopping the Yatra beyond 1 km. “The organisers had not consulted the JKP before taking any decision on stopping the yatra after organising a 1 km yatra. The rest of the journey continued peacefully. There was no security lapse. We will provide strong security.”
“The crowd was allowed to move towards the route of the yatra only after the organisers frisked the verified persons,” the police said.
In a tweet with a picture of the spot, Rajni Patil said, “The Union Territory administration of Jammu and Kashmir failed to provide security to the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra. The security lapses indicate the undue attitude of the UT administration.”
All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary KC Venugopal said there was no security personnel accompanying the 15-minute Bharat Jodo Yatra, calling it a “serious lapse”. Speaking to media persons, Venugopal said, “Security has been mishandled by the agencies concerned here. For 15 minutes, there was no security officer here with the India Jodo visit. This is a serious lapse. Rahul Gandhi and other passengers cannot walk without security.”