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BJP called Rahul Gandhi’s Punjab flood visit a drama after police clashes. Floods killed 56, damaged crops on 1.98 lakh hectares; leaders criticized curbs.
Rahul Gandhi posing questions to senior police officials on being stopped. (X)
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday took a jibe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, and called his visit to the flood-affected regions in Punjab a “drama”.
Gandhi was on a visit to Punjab to interact with flood-hit people in Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts.
In a post on X, Malviya said, “After yet another secret holiday in Malaysia’s Langkawi, Rahul Gandhi landed in Punjab, a state Congress lost to AAP, to stage yet another drama.”
He added, “The pretext: meeting flood victims. The reality: throwing tantrums at Punjab Police, insisting he be taken to dangerous terrains despite serious security risks.”
After yet another secret holiday in Malaysia’s Langkawi, Rahul Gandhi landed in Punjab, a state Congress lost to AAP, to stage yet another drama.The pretext: meeting flood victims.The reality: throwing tantrums at Punjab Police, insisting he be taken to dangerous terrains… pic.twitter.com/ukH7fTcyxq
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) September 16, 2025
His remarks came a day after the Congress accused the Punjab Police of not allowing Gandhi to meet flood-affected villagers across the Ravi river in Gurdaspur.
The Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition, who was on a day-long visit to the flood-affected state, was allegedly stopped by the local police from visiting Toor, a border village across the Ravi river in Gurdaspur.
Malviya further said, “A responsible leader would have consoled victims, supported rescue efforts, and strengthened administration. Instead, Rahul Gandhi chose to disrupt, distract, and destabilize. Irresponsibility at its peak.”
A video surfaced showing Gandhi questioning senior police officials about the restrictions. “You are telling me that you cannot keep me safe on Indian territory. That is what you are saying,” he asked.
When the officer replied, “We are always ready to protect you,” Gandhi shot back, “But you are saying that is India (while pointing towards the village across Ravi river) and you cannot protect me in India. Is it not India?”
He was accompanied by state unit chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and MP Sukhlinder Randhawa.
Warring and former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi criticised the state government for restricting Gandhi’s visit.
“Our own people stay there. He (Gandhi) wanted to enquire about their well-being. We have been holding a medical camp there for the past three-days. It is unfortunate that he was not being allowed to meet people,” said Channi while speaking to reporters.
Punjab faced one of its worst flood disasters in decades. The floods were a result of swollen Sutlej, Beas and Ravi rivers along with seasonal rivulets caused by heavy rainfall in their catchment areas in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.
Besides, heavy rains in Punjab had also intensified the flooding situation. The death toll because of the floods presently stands at 56, while crops on 1.98 lakh hectares were damaged.
(With inputs from agencies)
Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben…Read More
Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben… Read More
Gurdaspur, India, India
September 16, 2025, 18:53 IST
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