Rahul Gandhi Reaches Enforcement Directorate: Congress workers also held protests in Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Kerala, among other states.
Following a huge protest by the Congress on the streets of Delhi, party leader Rahul Gandhi reached the office of Enforcement Directorate (ED) today for questioning in the National Herald money laundering case.
Here are the 10 latest developments:
Rahul Gandhi Reaches Enforcement Directorate: Uncontrolled scenes were witnessed as Mr Gandhi, followed by his sister and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, headed towards the ED’s office it despite party workers’ slogans against the central government.
The Congress march made it through two points of barricading but was ceased at the third where Delhi Police had set up heavy force. After Rahul Gandhi and his lawyers move forward, many Congress leaders started a sit-in while Priyanka Gandhi Vadra turned back.
Afterwards, top Congress leaders were detained. By busses they were then taken to police stations. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra reached the Tughlaq Road police station to meet party leaders, with Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Congress general secretary KC Venugopal.
Police had imposed preventative orders today near the ED’s office. Approval for the protest march was refused last night, with the police citing “communal and law and order situation” and VVIP movements.
Rahul Gandhi Reaches Enforcement Directorate: The Congress, however, decided to go ahead with the countrywide protest as a show of strength. Protests were held in Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Kerala, among other states.
Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said to media that the barricading of the whole of Delhi “proves that the government fears us”. He narrate the Narendra Modi government as “coward” and said the Congress is ready to make “sacrifices”.
The Congress has been incriminating Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of using central agencies to silence the Opposition. The party has said the allegations against its leaders are “fake and baseless” and accused the BJP of “vendetta politics”.
The ED’s probe pertains to alleged financial abnormalities in the Congress-promoted Young Indian Private limited that owns the National Herald newspaper. The newspaper is published by Associated Journals Limited (AJL) and owned by Young Indian Private Limited.
Rahul Gandhi is likely to be questioned about the association of the Young Indian company, operations of the National Herald and the funds transfer within the news media establishment.
Sonia Gandhi too has been summoned in this case. She had got more time after she tested Covid positive. The agency has now issued her a fresh summons for June 23. Last afternoon, the Congress chief had to be admitted to a hospital in Delhi due to Covid-related issues.
