Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has written a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah over alleged security issues being faced by party leader Rahul Gandhi on the ongoing ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’ in Assam and urged his intervention into the matter.

The yatra-led by Gandhi which kicked off from Manipur’s Imphal on January 14, is currently continuing in Assam after it traversed through Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya.

In his letter to the minister on Tuesday, Kharge wrote, “The aim of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra (BJNY) is to promote the message of justice and harmony among the people of India.Unfortunately, since the yatra has entered Assam on January 18 there have been several instances where the Assam police have been found wanting in providing adequate security that Rahul Gandhi who is entitled to as a Z+ security.”

Highlighting a series of alleged incidents since the yatra entered into the northeastern state, he said, “On January 19 miscreants associated with the BJP were caught defacing and taking down posters and hoardings of the BJNY in Assam’s Lakhimpur district.”

Kharge, who is also the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha further said, “On January 21 as the yatra returned to Assam via Arunachal Pradesh, another outrageous attack occurred on the Yatra in Sonitpur district. The local Superintendent of Police in Sonitpur district happens to be the brother of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. He watched to see that BJP workers attacked and manhandled the Congress’ social media team along with our general secretary Jairam Ramesh. ”

Ramesh’s car was attacked, while miscreants shouting anti-BJNY slogans, tearing off the BJNY sticker on the vehicle, and attempting to throw water on the passengers inside, he claimed.

The Assam police has systematically stood by and/or allowed BJP workers to come closer and closer to the convoy of Gandhi breaching his security cordon, and endangering his physical security and that of his team, Kharge alleged.

He said despite the presence of ample evidence available in the public domain, none of the “miscreants” have been arrested and in many instances, investigation has not been initiated.

“As the risk increases, and as the yatra proceeds as planned, we request your intervention to ensure that the Chief Minister of Assam and the Director General of Police ensure that no such untoward incident takes place which may lead to grave personal injury to Rahul Gandhi or any members of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra,” Kharge said.