The Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, and his sister, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, met with the families of the victims of the Sambhal violence on Tuesday evening at 10 Janpath, their mother Sonia Gandhi’s residence in Delhi, according to sources from Hindustan Times.

This comes after the Uttar Pradesh government denied the Congress leaders permission to visit Sambhal district, where communal violence had erupted.On December 4, LOP Rahul Gandhi and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were stopped by Uttar Pradesh police at the Ghazipur border, which marks the boundary between Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, as they attempted to visit Sambhal. The city had witnessed communal tensions after a court allowed a survey of the Mughal-era Shahi Jama Masjid, which some claimed was built on the site of a Harihar temple.

 

Also Read: #MenToo Trends After Bengaluru Techie Dies By Suicide Alleging Harassment From Wife

Their car, which arrived at the border around 11 am, was halted by police barricades. Addressing the media at the spot, Rahul Gandhi expressed his frustration, "I am ready to go alone, I am ready to go with the police, but they did not accept that too. They are saying that if we come back in a few days then they will let us go. This is against the rights of the LoP and against the Constitution. We just want to go to Sambhal and see what happened there, we want to meet the people. My constitutional right is not being given to me. This is the new India, this is the India to end the Constitution. This is the India to end Ambedkar's Constitution. We will keep fighting," Rahul Gandhi had said.

 

The situation in Sambhal has remained tense since November 19, when a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid led to claims that a temple previously stood on the site. Violence broke out on November 24, the second day of the survey, as protests near the mosque escalated into clashes with security forces. The violence resulted in four deaths and left many injured.

Also Read: Maha Kumbh 2025: Stations Renovated, 13000 Trains To Serve Visitors As Railways Gear Up For Largest Pilgrimage

Authorities imposed restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS)—a provision allowing orders to address urgent cases of public nuisance or potential danger. These restrictions have been extended in Sambhal until December 31.

Denied entry into Uttar Pradesh, the Congress leaders instead invited the families of the victims to Delhi. At the meeting, the Gandhis expressed solidarity with the families and criticized the state government for its handling of the violence and for obstructing their visit.