On the second day of their ‘Satyagraha’ march from AICC headquarters in New Delhi, hundreds of Congress leaders and members including Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, General Secretary Randeep Surjewala and MPs Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and KC Venugopal were detained by the Delhi Police. For gathering illegally and violating the orders of the police.
Senior Congress leaders were detained outside the AICC office. They were marching to support the senior leader Rahul Gandhi He was on his way to the Enforcement Directorate’s office for questioning in the National Herald case.
Delhi Police had earlier refused permission for the protest and imposed section 144 CrPC in the area.
A total of 459 Congress leaders and members have been detained, Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Sagarpreet Hooda said on Monday.
All the leaders and party members including women were picked up, dragged and pushed into buses and police vehicles.
Talking about Congress leaders being detained twice in two days, Surjewala said, “Why? Bharatiya Janata Party Afraid of Gandhi and Congress? We are opposing this matter only because there is no merit in it and Gandhi is being targeted. We have been facing harassment and assault for hours. The police keep pushing us and will drop us at stations.”
Chief Minister Baghel’s security officers were taken to their vehicle after a scuffle with the policemen. The vehicle was then taken to the police station. Before his detention, Choudhary said, “We are being pushed and women are being abused. Is this the way of dealing with the members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha? I am sure the ED case will break. Gandhi has nothing to hide. He will emerge victorious. We are here because it is our duty, both political and moral, to support a leader. ,
A senior police officer said all the detainees were taken to Mandir Marg and Tughlaq Road police stations and would be released soon.
“We had warned Congress party leaders and workers about the detention. However, they continued to create ruckus and obstruct the police in their duty. Some of them were protesting against the detention and even pushed our officers.
A total of 459 Congress leaders and members have been detained, Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Sagarpreet Hooda said on Monday.
“We had allowed entry of 100 senior Congress members for the rally. Adequate arrangements were made keeping in view the possibility of breach of security and security of VIPs, ED officials, general public etc. due to heavy gathering of party leaders/workers. Section 144 of CrPC has been imposed in the area since May. 24. The AICC secretary had assured that the ED office would not be crowded with VIPs, but as soon as Rahul Gandhi left Akbar Road, several Congress leaders, along with workers, started walking with him,” he said.
The Delhi Police and Hooda denied the allegations of assault and beatings by the policemen. “All women activists/officers were released… There were some complaints at Tughlaq Road police station but no such incident (of violence). If there are allegations of some scuffle, the same will be seriously considered for appropriate action,” Hooda said.