Mamata Banerjee's police have imposed an almost "complete restriction" on Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra on Friday in Birbhum, denying permission for events by citing that those would adversely impact Madhyamik examinees.

Madhyamik exams start on Friday.

Replying to a Congress letter sent to the state home secretary seeking permission for the Yatra, a senior police officer of Birbhum on Wednesday night informed Congress leaders in writing the curbs in the district for Friday.

"As Madhyamik Examination 2024 will commence from 02.02.2024, (from) 9.45 Hrs to 13.00 Hrs, a number of examinees will be on roads from early morning to late evening on 02.02.2024. Any type of traffic congestion will hinder the free movement of examinees on that day. Under these circumstances no permission for holding rally/procession/roadshow can be accorded to your programme on that day," the police letter reads.

The police also cancelled permission for a Congress public meeting scheduled in Barshal village of Rampurhat.

A district Congress leader said the curbs in Birbhum were unprecedented.

"In north Bengal, the state government did not permit the use of government guest houses, grounds or auditorium for our public meetings, but did not attempt to stop the entire Yatra the way it has done in Birbhum," he said.

A Congress state general secretary, Manoj Chakraborty, hinted that Trinamul was "scared" of the Yatra's "popularity".

A senior police officer, however, said they would not hinder the Yatra from smoothly passing through the district without a halt. Legal action would be taken only if it caused hurdles for Madhyamik examinees.

Rahul's Yatra is set to enter Birbhum from Murshidabad's Majhipara around 10am on Friday. After covering around 60km will enter Jharkhand.