Sambhal clashes: Rahul Gandhi blames BJP for fanning communal tensions

New Delhi: After violence erupted in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Monday condemned the BJP for using its power to create divisions between Hindus and Muslims, stressing that it was against the interests of both the state and the country. Gandhi also urged the Supreme Court to intervene and address the situation swiftly.

The violence, which broke out on Sunday, resulted in the deaths of three people and injuries to many others, including security personnel and local administration staff. The clashes were triggered by a protest against a court-ordered survey of a Mughal-era mosque in Sambhal. Two more individuals, who were injured during the violence, later succumbed to their injuries on Monday, bringing the death toll to five.

In a post on X, Rahul criticized the state government's "biased and hasty" actions, which he claimed escalated the tensions further, leading to the deaths. "I express my deepest condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. The administration, without listening to all the parties involved, took actions that worsened the situation," he said.

The Congress leader also held the BJP government accountable, accusing it of stoking religious tensions. “The BJP’s use of power to create divisions between Hindu and Muslim communities is harmful to both the state and the nation,” he added. Rahul urged the Supreme Court to intervene promptly to ensure justice and prevent further escalation.

Additionally, Rahul appealed for peace and national unity, saying, “We all must come together to ensure India moves forward on the path of unity and constitution, not communalism and hatred."

In response to the violence, the district administration imposed prohibitory orders and restricted the entry of outsiders into Sambhal until November 30. Internet services in the Sambhal tehsil were suspended for 24 hours, and schools in the district were closed on Monday.

The unrest began when protesters opposing the survey of the Jama Masjid clashed with police. Protesters set vehicles on fire and threw stones at security personnel, while the police used tear gas and batons to control the situation. The survey of the mosque had been ordered by the court after a petition claimed that a Hindu temple once stood at the site.

Tension had been simmering in Sambhal since November 19, when the survey was first conducted. On Sunday, a large group of people gathered near the mosque and raised slogans, which escalated when the survey team arrived.

District officials confirmed that the survey could not be completed as planned, due to the disturbances, and was rescheduled for a later date.

Moradabad's Deputy Inspector General of Police Muniraj confirmed that the three men who initially died in the violence were identified as Naeem, Bilal, and Nauman, all around 25 years old. Two more individuals later succumbed to their injuries. Several security officers, including the police spokesperson and a circle officer, were also injured in the clashes, with some sustaining serious injuries.

The Congress party, in a statement, blamed the Adityanath administration for the violence, accusing the BJP-RSS of “setting fire” to the region's peace. The opposition party also released videos showing the police allegedly firing on protesters, calling it evidence of a “well-planned conspiracy” to disrupt peace in the region.