Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was on Monday stopped by the police and National Disaster Response Force personnel from visiting flood-hit villages along the India-Pakistan border in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district, citing security risks.

Gandhi, who is on a tour of areas in the state affected by floods, was told it was unsafe to cross the swollen Ravi river by boat to reach the “zero line” villages, The Indian Express reported. Zero line villages are settlements that are situated along the border.

Punjab is reeling from its worst floods in nearly four decades, with 46 deaths reported in the past month. The state government has estimated losses from the floods to be Rs 14,000 crore.

The police halted his convoy at Makora Pattan village, from where Gandhi planned to take a boat to Toor village near the border, leading to an argument, the newspaper reported.

A video of the incident posted by Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring shows Gandhi questioning the restriction.

Pointing across the river, he asked a police officer: “You are telling me you cannot keep me safe on Indian territory? Is it not India?”

The officer replied, “We are always ready to protect you”.

To this, Gandhi said: “Are you saying the leader of Opposition cannot visit because Punjab Police cannot provide protection?”

Warring criticised Punjab’s Aam Aadmi Party government on social media, claiming that it had deployed a heavy police force to stop the group of Congress leaders.

Speaking to reporters, he added: “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?”

Warring also alleged that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had urged Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge to stop Gandhi “on security grounds”, The Indian Express reported.

Bharatiya Janata Party publicity chief Amit Malviya accused Gandhi of throwing a “tantrum”.

“Rahul Gandhi landed in Punjab, a state Congress lost to AAP, to stage yet another drama,” he said on social media. “A responsible leader would have consoled victims, supported rescue efforts and strengthened administration.”

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