Despite a government-imposed entry ban, Congress leaders plan to meet victims’ families after deadly clashes erupted over a mosque survey in Uttar Pradesh

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, along with five Members of Parliament from Uttar Pradesh, are set to visit Sambhal on Wednesday, despite a stringent ban on ‘outsiders’ imposed by the local authorities. The district, still reeling from violent clashes last month, has restricted entry to prevent further unrest. The violence, which claimed the lives of four people, was sparked by a survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid following claims that the site had once housed a Hindu temple.

The Sambhal administration, which has been under immense pressure to maintain order, issued an order on Tuesday extending the entry ban for external visitors and public representatives until December 10. District Magistrate Rajendra Pensiya sent out a letter to officials in neighbouring districts such as Bulandshahr, Ghaziabad, Amroha, and Gautam Buddha Nagar, instructing them to prevent Rahul Gandhi’s visit. The letter requested that he be stopped at the district borders to comply with the prohibitory orders issued under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.

The tension stems from the survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid, which was ordered by a petition alleging that the mosque had once been a Hindu temple, known as Harihar Temple. In response, local Muslim communities protested fiercely, resulting in clashes that involved gunfire, stone-pelting, and widespread arson. The violence left four dead, and numerous others injured, and left the district on edge. The district administration has taken extensive precautions, including heavy police deployment and surveillance, to avoid any escalation in the run-up to the visit of the Congress leaders.

Despite the efforts to block their entry, Congress officials remain resolute in their decision to press on with the visit. Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition and Congress MP, has expressed his determination to stand in solidarity with the families of the victims. Priyanka Gandhi, the newly elected MP from Wayanad, has also pledged her support. They aim to meet the grieving families, offer their condolences, and highlight the plight of those affected by the violence.

In a statement shared on social media, Congress General Secretary for Uttar Pradesh, Avinash Pande, called for public support for the delegation. He urged Congress supporters to gather at the Ghazipur border and join the procession towards Sambhal. “Rahul Gandhi will travel to Sambhal to meet the families of those affected by the violence,” Pande said. “We must come together in this struggle for justice and democracy.”

The Congress leaders’ visit has stirred a wave of debate. Supporters of the party view it as an act of solidarity with the victims and an essential move to draw attention to the escalating tensions in the region. Critics, however, argue that the visit could exacerbate an already volatile situation. Political observers suggest that the high stakes of this visit could have implications for Congress’s standing in Uttar Pradesh, a state that has seen considerable political turbulence in recent months.

Sambhal’s administration remains firm in its stance, with the entry ban being part of a broader strategy to control the ongoing unrest. The violence in the district is just one chapter in a larger narrative of religious tensions and communal unrest that have been simmering across parts of India. While Sambhal’s officials are hopeful that the entry restrictions will allow for peace to prevail, the visit of high-profile leaders like Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi could become a flashpoint.

The political context surrounding the visit is also significant. The Congress party, already critical of the state government’s handling of communal tensions, views this as an opportunity to strengthen its narrative against the ruling establishment. By drawing attention to the victims, Congress leaders hope to resonate with voters in the region, highlighting what they describe as the government’s failure to protect the lives and property of ordinary citizens.

Meanwhile, the BJP, which rules Uttar Pradesh, has sought to downplay the violence in Sambhal. Senior party officials have condemned the unrest but have been cautious about commenting on the proposed visit of the Congress leaders, preferring instead to focus on law and order measures taken by the state government.

As the situation in Sambhal remains tense, all eyes will be on the Gandhi family’s visit. Will their presence help heal the wounds of the families affected by the violence, or will it escalate an already fragile situation? Only time will tell. What is certain, however, is that this visit is set to become a defining moment in the ongoing political battle for Uttar Pradesh’s soul.