Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi faced a heated standoff with Punjab Police on September 15, 2025, when he was prevented from visiting the flood-ravaged border village of Toor in Gurdaspur district, near the India-Pakistan border along the Ravi river. The incident, which unfolded during Gandhi’s tour to assess flood damage in Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts, sparked accusations from the Congress that the AAP-led Punjab government was using security pretexts to block his access to affected villagers.
Gandhi, accompanied by Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring and other leaders, had already visited Ghonewal village in Amritsar and Gurchak village in Gurdaspur, where he interacted with flood-hit families and promised to raise their concerns for prompt relief and compensation. Attempting to cross the swollen Ravi river by boat to reach the isolated Toor village—still cut off from the mainland—he was stopped by local police and NDRF personnel, who cited security risks due to the proximity to the “zero line” border.
In a viral video of the confrontation at the riverbank, Gandhi questioned the officers sharply: “You are telling me that you cannot keep me safe on Indian territory. That is what you are saying.” When an officer pointed toward the village and affirmed it was Indian soil, Gandhi retorted, “Is it not India?” and further challenged, “But you are saying that is India and you cannot protect me in India.” The police officer responded, “We are always ready to protect you,” but maintained that the boat crossing was unsafe.
The Congress party alleged that the restriction was politically motivated, with Warring questioning the logic: “If Rahul Gandhi faces a threat from Pakistan while in India, and we’re not safe even on Indian soil, then where are we safe?” Former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi called the move “unfortunate,” noting that Congress had been running medical camps in the area for three days and Gandhi only wanted to meet affected families. Senior leader Partap Singh Bajwa accused both AAP and BJP leaders of failing to visit the border villages, emphasizing, “These are our people, our fellow Indians. Just because they live near the border does not make them less deserving of help.”
Reports suggested that the decision was influenced by a call from Union Home Minister Amit Shah to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, advising against the visit on security grounds. Gandhi later posted on X, urging state and central governments to ensure relief reaches victims without delay and reaffirming his solidarity with the affected families.
