Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge writes to Amit Shah over 'security lapse' in Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra

In a letter to the Union Home Ministry and Shah, Kharge wrote, "We are expecting a huge gathering to join the yatra over the next two days and also the function that will be held on 30th January at Srinagar.

"Many senior leaders and leaders of other important political parties are attending the culmination function to be held on the 30th of January."

"I shall be grateful if you could personally intervene in this matter and advise the concerned officials to provide adequate security till the culmination of the yatra and the function on the 30th of January at Srinagar," the letter further read.

Congress MP and top leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said he had to cancel his yatra in Jammu and Kashmir because the police arrangements had "completely collapsed".

Rahul was about to walk for 16 kilometers in the Kashmir Valley on Friday.

The Wayanad MP said, "When we crossed the tunnel, there was a huge crowd for my reception. After the tunnel, the police arrangements collapsed. The policemen who used to manage the crowd and were supposed to hold the rope were nowhere to be found.

"I had to cancel my plan after my security detail advised that we should not move ahead," Rahul told reporters in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

Countering Rahul's claim, Jammu and Kashmir Police said there was no security lapse during the Yatra and they will provide foolproof security to the event.

The police said only authorised persons as identified by the organisers and frisked crowd were allowed inside towards the route of Yatra.