Rahul Gandhi ED Probe: Cong Workers' Protests Turn Violent in Several Cities

Several state units called for protests against the probe agency’s marathon questioning in the National Herald Case

Congress party workers burn a motorcycle during a protest march.

(Photo: PTI)

A day after the Delhi Police allegedly forced their way into the All India Congress Committee (AICC) Headquarters and lathi-charged leaders, workers of the Indian National Congress held protests in several states on Thursday, 16 June, against Rahul Gandhi’s questioning by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the National Herald case.

Several state Congress units called for statewide protests against the probe agency’s marathon questioning over money laundering charges.

Meanwhile, Congress MPs, on Thursday, met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and the Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu seeking their intervention into alleged manhandling of several of its parliamentarians during the course of their protest.

Rahul Gandhi’s questioning lasted for almost eight hours on Wednesday, the third consecutive day of questioning . However, the ED asked the Wayanad MP to reappear before it on Friday and rejoin the investigation.

• Delhi Congress led by state president Anil Kumar held a protest and aimed to march to LG Saxena's residence.

• Telangana Congress organises ‘Chalo Raj Bhavan’ march, protest saw vehicle set on fire.

• The Uttarakhand Congress workers staged a symbolic gherao of the state Raj Bhavan.

• Goa Congress leaders alongside state chief Amit Patkar were detained by the police while they were marching towards Raj Bhavan.

• In Karnataka, Congress workers raised slogans during a protest in Bengaluru, disrupting traffic as they aimed to march to Raj Bhavan to provide a memorandum and complaint letter.

• The Nagaland Pradesh Youth Congress staged a dharna outside Raj Bhavan.

• The Rajasthan Congress staged a symbolic gherao of the Rajasthan Raj Bhavan in Jaipur and demonstrated against the alleged repressive policies of the Centre.

• Police in Punjab used water cannons to disperse a group of Congress leaders and workers as they tried to carry out a protest march

• Senior Maharashtra ministers of the Congress were detained, as leaders tried to remove barricades outside Raj Bhavan during their protest.

Gandhi was questioned by the central agency for over 11 hours on Tuesday and nearly 10 hours on Monday.

Congress workers are protesting in Delhi, Hyderabad, Goa, Bengaluru, Nagaland, Jaipur, Punjab, Chennai, Uttar Pradesh, Thiruvananthapuram, and Puducherry.

DELHI: Congress Marches to LG After Alleged AICC Lathicharge

Delhi Congress workers led by state president Anil Kumar held a protest in Civil Lines, and aimed to march to Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena’s residence.

The workers marched from Sushrut Trauma Centre near Chandgiram Akhara to the LG’s residence, and publicly denounced the Delhi Police for “entering the Congress HQ” and “thrashing” party leaders and workers inside.

The Delhi Police, on Thursday, also registered a case against unidentified protesters for allegedly manhandling police personnel, for creating chaos by burning tyres and causing damage to barricades during the ongoing protest, as per PTI.

They alleged that the police tried to stop the march and used water cannons to disrupt the protest.

On Wednesday, a video shared by the Congress showed police personnel forcibly entering the party headquarters, as party workers and leaders continued to protest the ED probe against Gandhi.

"The Delhi Police today forcibly entered the national headquarters of the Indian National Congress at Delhi, beat up workers and leaders. This is patently criminal trespass. The goondaism of Modi government and Delhi Police has reached its zenith."

Party spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala, who addressed the media after the incident.

Several leaders, including Sachin Pilot, Anil Kumar, KC Venugopal, and Indian Youth Congress chief Srinivas BV, were detained and then released.

TELANGANA: Congress Organises ‘Chalo Raj Bhavan’ March; Vehicle Set on Fire

As part of a call for “Chalo Raj Bhavan” by the Congress’ Telangana unit, scores of Congress leaders and workers staged a protest, which turned violent, with tensions escalating near Raj Bhavan on Thursday.

A two-wheeler was set on fire and some protesters were seen climbing on a state-run city bus even as window panes of the bus were smashed allegedly by an agitator.

News agency PTI reported that police foiled attempts by protesters to lay siege to Raj Bhawan, with demonstrators climbing atop buses, raising slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the police.

Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President and party MP A Revanth Reddy, Congress Legislature Party leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and several others were taken into preventive custody by police as they were proceeding towards Raj Bhawan.

The protest caused a traffic jam at Khairtabad Circle and surrounding areas.

GOA: Black Flags Raised at Congress Protest

Several Goa Congress leaders alongside state chief Amit Patkar were detained by the police while they were marching towards Raj Bhawan, the official residence of governor PS Sreedharan Pillai.

The Congress workers, who waved black flags during the protest, were stopped on a road which leads to Raj Bhawan, located in Dona Paula, near the state capital. A senior police official said that the workers were later taken to Panaji police station.

Claiming that the Union government was targeting opposition leaders using central agencies, Patkar said, “We had an appointment with the governor, but despite that, we are detained.”

KARNATAKA: Preventative Custody Warning, Traffic Disrupted

In Karnataka, Congress workers raised slogans during a protest in Bengaluru, disrupting traffic as they aimed to march to Raj Bhawan to provide a memorandum and complaint letter against the BJP.

Ahead of the march, massive traffic buildup was seen throughout the city, with visuals of an ambulance stuck in traffic emerging as well.

The Bengaluru East DCP issued warnings of possible preventative custody if Congress workers were to proceed with the march. He added that earlier, the Karnataka High Court ordered that protests will not be held in any place except Freedom Park.

Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar, expressing that protesting is their right said, “We will fight for justice. They (ED) are not taking cases of any BJP leaders, they are harassing only Congress people.”

NAGALAND: 'Conspiracy With the Upcoming Presidential Election,' says Youth Congress President 

The Nagaland Pradesh Youth Congress staged a dharna outside Raj Bhawan, with Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee working President Khriedi Theunuo alleging that the BJP government wants to silence those associated with the freedom struggle and those currently highlighting the "injustice and failure" of the Modi government.

Addressing the protesters, AICC secretary Ranajit Mukherjee said that they will continue to protest, as they “see this as a larger conspiracy with the upcoming Presidential Election,” adding that the NDA does not have the required 50 percent vote share for the upcoming election.

Everything is "going wrong" in the country, including the developmental, economic, and socio-economic parameters under the BJP government at the Centre, he alleged.

UTTARAKHAND: Party Workers Gherao Raj Bhawan

The Uttarakhand Congress workers, on Thursday, staged the symbolic gherao of Uttarakhand Raj Bhavan under the leadership of leaders and members of the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly Karan Mahra, Yashpal Arya and Pritam Singh.

The gherao was staged "against the retaliatory action by Modi government," INC wrote on their Twitter handle.

"The war of Congress workers against the dictatorship of Modi government continues," it added.

RAJASTHAN: Party Workers Gherao Raj Bhawan in Jaipur

The Rajasthan Congress staged a symbolic gherao of the Rajasthan Raj Bhawan in Jaipur and demonstrated against the alleged repressive policies of the Centre and the Enforcement Directorate's questioning of Rahul Gandhi.

State Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra claimed that the ED's case against Gandhi was false and part of the Centre's conspiracy to divert people's attention from real issues facing the country.

The leaders, along with party workers staged a sit-in at the Civil Lines gate near the Raj Bhawan.

State ministers Pratap Singh Khachariawas and Ashok Chandna also addressed the protest demonstration.

Dotasra added that party workers would protest at all district headquarters in the state on Friday, 17 June.

PUNJAB: Party Leaders ‘Targeted’ in ‘Undemocratic Ways’

Police in Punjab used water cannons to disperse a group of Congress leaders and workers as they tried to carry out a protest march to the Raj Bhawan to denounce the "undemocratic ways" in which the party's leaders are being "targeted" by the Centre.

Led by its chief, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, the Congress Punjab unit gathered at the party's state headquarters, from where they tried to march on foot towards the Punjab Raj Bhawan about four to five kilometres away. However, their attempt to lay siege was soon stopped by the police.

Punjab Assembly Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, State Youth Congress chief Barinder Singh and several MLAs were part of the protest.

When some Congress workers tried to jump over barricades deployed along the route, a water cannon was used to disperse them, after which they were briefly detained.

Maharashtra: Nana Patole, Ashok Chavan Detained

Senior ministers of the Maharashtra government were detained, as leaders tried to remove barricades outside Raj Bhawan during their protest march against the ED's questioning.

State Congress president Nana Patole, PWD Minister Ashok Chavan, Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat, School Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad, Medical Education Minister Amit Deshmukh, and Textile Minister Aslam Shaikh were among those detained, police officials said.

An official said that the leaders will be taken to the nearby police station and released subsequently.

Earlier, speaking to reporters, Patole said the party was protesting against the "dictatorial attitude of the Narendra Modi government", and attempts to "suppress the Opposition's voice" will not succeed.

Congress Delegation Meets LS Speaker Om Birla, RS Chairman Venkaiah Naidu

Congress MPs met Lok Sabha Speaker OM Birla and Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu seeking intervention following the Delhi police’s action against party lawmakers during their protests in the national capital, alleging they were treated like "terrorists".

They alleged that their privileges as members of Parliament have been breached and demanded lawful action against the Delhi Police.

The delegation that met LS Speaker Om Birla was led by the party's Leader in the House Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, while the delegation that called on Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu was led by Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge who had senior Congress leaders such as P Chidambaram, Jairam Ramesh and KC Venugopal alongside him.

The delegations also handed over a pen drive containing videos of the alleged harassment of MPs and how they were "ill-treated" by Delhi police.

Chowdhury alleged that women MPs were beaten up and their clothes "torn".

Kharge told Naidu that Congress MPs were misbehaved with, and were taken to police stations without informing the Chairman or the Speaker as is mandated by rules.

"We want this to be treated as a privilege notice and it is the right of the Chairman to defend us for violation of our rights and ask them how MPs were detained. The Chairman said he will examine this and get details of the incidents," Kharge told reporters.

Senior leader P Chidambaram said that the ED cannot leak its version of the interrogation. "The fact that ED has leaked selected parts of the investigation according to their understanding clearly establishes bias and prejudice," he said.

He also said the police have assaulted MPs of both houses and held them without a written order for eight to 10 hours, denying them food and water.

"Let the matter be referred to the Privileges Committee," Chidambaram demanded.

(With inputs from PTI)