In pics: Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra enters Bengal amid strain in ties

The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra entered West Bengal on Thursday morning through Boxirhat in Cooch Behar district. Rahul Gandhi was welcomed there by senior Congress leaders, including the state unit chief and five-time Lok Sabha MP, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.

Rahul Gandhi says, "I am happy to have come to West Bengal. We have come here to listen to you and stand with you. BJP-RSS are spreading hatred, violence and injustice. So, INDIA formation is going to fight 'Anyay' together."

As the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra entered Bengal, Rahul Gandhi adopted a conciliatory tone saying that the INDIA bloc will fight 'Anyay' together. The comments come a day after senior opposition leader Mamata Banerjee vowed that she would fight the Lok Sabha polls alone in her state.

Alleging serious breach in Rahul Gandhi’s security in Assam during the ongoing ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on in a letter to Home Minister Amit Shah Urged to direct the CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and the state’s police chief to ensure there is no repeat of “untoward incident which may lead to grave personal injury” to the Gandhi scion. He also alleged that the attack on Congress leaders and disruptions to Yatra took place in Sonitpur where the CM’s brother is the local police chief.

​Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said on Thursday that he is very confident that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee too wants to defeat the BJP, adding, "We especially want CM herself to come, even if that is for 10-15 minutes." Jairam Ramesh told that Mamata Banerjee is an experienced and energetic leader of the country and they respect her.

Ahead of Bharat Jodo Nyay yatra and Rahul Gandhi's press conference of on Tuesday, Mamata Banerjee said, "I had no discussions with the Congress party. I have always said that in Bengal, we will fight alone. I am not concerned about what will be done in the country but we are a secular party and in Bengal, we will alone will defeat BJP."

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said that FIR has been registered here on the charge of instigating violence and will be arrested after the Lok Sabha elections. The Assam police suo motu registered the FIR against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and several other leaders for "wanton acts of violence" here during the party's 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' on Tuesday.

"A year ago we did the 4000 Km long Bharat Jodo Yatra, traversing from Kanyakumari to Jammu and Kashmir. We opened Mohabbat Ki Dukkan in Nafrat Ka Bazaar (a shop of love in the market of hatred). Now we are moving from Imphal to Mumbai. Today we are entering West Bengal from Assam. I want to wholeheartedly thank the Congress workers in Assam. You managed the (arrangements of the) Yatra very brilliantly. You have changed the politics of Assam, and for this, I thank you wholeheartedly. I am happy to have come to West Bengal. We have come here to listen to you and stand with you," Rahul said.