Traffic Delays on Delhi-Meerut Expressway Due to Congress Leaders’ Visit to Sambhal
Traffic congestion near the Ghazipur border on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway was particularly slow on Wednesday morning as heightened security measures were in place for the visit of Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to Sambhal district in Uttar Pradesh.
The Gandhis, en route to Sambhal, were halted at the Ghazipur border, exacerbating the already slow-moving traffic. As Congress supporters gathered in anticipation of their visit, the situation grew more congested.
Indirapuram ACP Swatantra Kumar Singh, when asked about the potential stoppage of the Gandhis, stated that no such orders had been issued. He clarified that the police were following security protocols and would act according to any instructions received.
Rahul Gandhi, accompanied by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and five other Congress MPs, had planned to visit Sambhal to meet with the families of those killed in the violence on November 24. The violence occurred after a court-ordered survey of a mosque in the area. The district, which remains under prohibitory orders—including a ban on outsiders—had initially seen these restrictions set to expire on Sunday, but they have now been extended until December 31.
Sambhal’s District Magistrate, Rajendra Pensia, sent a communication to the police commissioners of neighboring districts requesting that the delegation be stopped due to the region’s “communal sensitivity.” Should the delegation proceed, they are likely to face a notice under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, which restricts outsider entry into the district.
In response, Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai confirmed that they would seek permission for at least four members of the delegation to enter, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and UP in-charge Avinash Pande.
Sambhal has been under tension since the November 19 survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid, following claims that a temple, Harihar, once stood at the site. The violence on November 24 led to four deaths and several injuries, further intensifying the volatile situation in the district.
