Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, along with his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other party MPs, was stopped by police at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border in Ghazipur while attempting to visit Sambhal. The leaders intended to meet families of victims of the November 24 violence, which left four dead during clashes with police over a controversial mosque survey.

In a video shared on social media, Mr. Gandhi is seen questioning a police officer about the denial of permission. "As Leader of the Opposition, it is my right and duty to visit and meet affected families," he argued. The officer responded, citing "law and order" concerns, but Mr. Gandhi countered, "Am I going to disturb law and order? I’ll go quietly with the police and return." Despite their request for a smaller delegation or Mr. Gandhi to proceed alone, the police refused entry, prompting the Congress team to turn back.

Opposition leaders, including Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, criticized the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government’s decision to block the visit. Congress MPs also staged a walkout in the Lok Sabha to protest. The BJP, however, dismissed the Congress visit as a "photo op," with BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi questioning why Mr. Gandhi did not visit similar incidents in other states. Union Minister Giriraj Singh labeled the move a "political drama."

Prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita have been imposed in Sambhal until December 31, restricting entry to outsiders. Authorities cited ongoing tensions after violent clashes erupted during a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid. The mosque, a Mughal-era structure, is at the center of a legal dispute over claims it was built on a Hindu temple site. Local Samajwadi Party MP Zia Ur Rehman, MLA Mahmood’s son Sohail Iqbal, and over 700 others have been named in an FIR linked to the violence.

The Congress and other opposition parties have called the government's restrictions undemocratic, while the BJP continues to defend its stance, maintaining that the prohibitory orders are necessary to ensure public safety.