District authorities in Uttar Pradesh's Amethi asked Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi on Sunday to re-schedule his proposed visit to his Lok Sabha constituency on law-and-order grounds, sparking a political slugfest between the Opposition party and the BJP.
Rahul is scheduled to be in Amethi during October 4-6. The administration has said that the focus of security personnel will be on Durga idol immersions and Muharram processions that are likely to continue around the time.
This is the first visit to Amethi by Rahul since February 19 when he had addressed an election rally in his constituency. BJP president Amit Shah, along with other senior party leaders and Central Ministers, is schedule to visit Amethi on October 10.
"In order to maintain law and order, a majority of the district police personnel will be on duty. Hence, there will be great inconvenience in maintaining peace. Therefore, it is requested that the tour be re-scheduled on any date after October 5," a letter written by the Amethi administration to the district Congress chief said.
The letter, signed by District Magistrate Yogesh Kumar and Superintendent of Police Poonam, added, "Through a letter (dated September 30), it was informed that a visit of MP Rahul Gandhi is proposed from October 4 to October 6. However, on October 5, Durga Puja/Dussehra and Muharram will culminate at several places."
Senior Uttar Pradesh Congress leader Akhilesh Singh accused the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government in the state of "using tactics" to stop Rahul from visiting his Lok Sabha constituency.
Reacting to the charge, state BJP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi said, "As an elected MP, Rahul has failed to work for his people, and many of the development schemes promised by him are lying incomplete." He said "missing" posters of the Congress leader had been put up in Amethi in the past.
(With agency inputs)
