Rahul Gandhi Prevented from Visiting Flood-Affected Areas in Punjab

Police Blockade During Flood Relief Visit

On Monday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was halted by law enforcement and National Disaster Response Force members while attempting to reach flood-affected villages near the India-Pakistan border in Punjab's Gurdaspur district, due to concerns over safety.

During his visit to the flood-stricken regions, authorities informed Gandhi that it was unsafe to navigate the swollen Ravi River by boat to access the border villages, known as 'zero line' settlements, as reported by a local news outlet.

Punjab is currently grappling with its most severe flooding in nearly 40 years, resulting in 46 fatalities over the past month. The state government has projected the financial impact of the floods to be around Rs 14,000 crore.

His convoy was stopped at Makora Pattan village, where he intended to take a boat to Toor village, leading to a confrontation, according to reports.

A video shared by Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring captures Gandhi questioning the police's decision to restrict his movement.

श्री @RahulGandhi जी पंजाब आए थे बाढ़ पीड़ित परिवारों का दुख-सुख बाँटने।

लेकिन डरी हुई @AAPPunjab सरकार ने भारी पुलिस बल लगा दिया और उन्हें रोक दिया।
यहाँ तक कि उन्हें नदी के टापू तक भी नहीं जाने दिया गया जहाँ लोग फंसे हुए हैं।

👉 जनता की मदद करने की बजाय@AAPPunjab उन लोगों को… pic.twitter.com/XRSDVKHGZI

— Amarinder Singh Raja Warring (@RajaBrar_INC) September 15, 2025

Pointing towards the river, Gandhi challenged a police officer, asking, “Are you saying you cannot ensure my safety on Indian soil? Is this not India?”

The officer responded, “We are always prepared to protect you.”

Gandhi then remarked, “Are you implying that the leader of the Opposition cannot visit because the Punjab Police cannot guarantee protection?”

Warring criticized the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab on social media, asserting that they had deployed excessive police presence to obstruct the Congress leaders.

In a statement to the press, he questioned, “If Rahul Gandhi is at risk from Pakistan while on Indian territory, then where can we feel secure?”

Warring also claimed that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had advised Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge to prevent Gandhi's visit “on security grounds,” as reported by a local news outlet.

Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Amit Malviya accused Gandhi of staging a “tantrum.”

“Rahul Gandhi arrived in Punjab, a state Congress lost to AAP, to create yet another spectacle,” he stated on social media. “A responsible leader would have comforted victims, aided rescue operations, and bolstered the administration.”