• Source:JND
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Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday urged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to avoid visiting the birthplace of Srimanta Sankardeva at Batadrava on January 22, the day when Pran Pratishtha ceremony will take place at Ram Temple in Ayodhya. He said Wayand MP’s visit to the Vaishnav saint's birthplace would create unnecessary competition and portray Assam in a bad light. 

Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra entered Assam from Arunachal Pradesh on Sunday. 

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Addressing a press conference, Sarma advised Rahul Gandhi to visit the aforementioned site after the consecration ceremony. "We will request Rahul Gandhi not to visit Batadrava on Monday during the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple as it will reflect Assam in the wrong light. He can visit the place after the consecration ceremony without creating unnecessary competition which will be sad for Assam,” he said.

Sarma said Rahul’s yatra in Assam will pass through sensitive areas, owing to which he had deputed commandos to ensure law and order does not get compromised. ''These areas are sensitive and I cannot discount any law and order situation arising and as such commandos will be deployed along sensitive routes of minority-dominated areas to be taken by Rahul Gandhi's Yatra on January 22,'' he added. 

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Both Rahul and Sarma have been attacking each other over a plethora of issues since the former started his foot march in the northeast. Rahul said Sarma was scared as he was corrupt. Responding to the attack, Sarma said Rahul was even scared of his child. "Rahul Gandhi pehle toh mujhse darta tha, ab mere bacche se bhi darna shuru kar diya (Rahul was scared of me earlier but he is now scared of my child too)," he said.