Congress rally in support of Rahul stalled by police in Guwahati

GUWAHATI: Assam Congress took out a "solidarity march" in support of Rahul Gandhi in Guwahati, soon after he was sentenced to two years' imprisonment in "Modi surname" defamation case.
Police were deployed outside the state Congress headquarters, Rajiv Bhawan, from where Congress took out the rally. About 300 Congress leaders and workers participated in the rally that was heading to capital Dispur but was stopped outside Rajiv Bhawan where a mild scuffle took place with police.
"Our leader Rahul Gandhi has consistently taken a stance to protect the democratic character of the nation and to safeguard the independent institutions enshrined in the Constitution. We stand with him," said Assam PCC president Bhupen Kumar Borah.
Leader of opposition Debabrata Saikia said BJP was targeting Rahul Gandhi for "speaking the truth" in foreign lands and for being vocal against the RSS. "They even do not want Rahul Gandhi to speak in Parliament. He has proved in foreign lands that democracy is in danger in India," he said.
Assam PCC working president Jakir Hussain Sikdar, who led the protest rally, said in the entire country Rahul Gandhi is the leader today who "speaks for the people and the country".
"The government has always been out to drown his voice. Now they want to suppress the movement in his support. BJP wants Rahul Gandhi to be behind the bars so that he can not mobilise the masses in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls," Sikdar added.
"We are preparing hard to contest from all 14 Lok Sabha seats in Assam and that's why the BJP-led government is even worried over our peaceful rally," he said.