Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala on Monday, 13 June, accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of “barbaric” behaviour towards Congress leaders and claimed that former home minister P Chidambaram was ‘hit’ by the Delhi police and has suffered a hairline fracture in his left rib.
Meanwhile, P Chidambaram took to Twitter to announce that he was “lucky” to survive a hairline fracture. He said that he is well and will go to work tomorrow.
Surjewala also claimed that Congress MP Pramod Tiwari was “thrown on the road” and has also fractured his rib and suffered a head injury.
Surjewala tweeted,
“Modi government has crossed every limit of barbarism. Former Home Minister, P Chidambaram was hit by police, his glasses were thrown on the ground, he has a hairline fracture in his left rib. MP Pramod Tiwari was thrown on the road. Head injury and rib fracture. Is this a democracy?”
The statement comes on the same day as Congress party’s 'Satyagraha' March in solidarity with Rahul Gandhi as he appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the National Herald money laundering case.
‘They Are Not Afraid of Anyone’: Surjewala
In a statement released on Twitter, he claimed that Congress MP Shaktisinh Gohil was also “beaten mercilessly” with lathis by the Delhi police.
He said, “Is this how you behave with the former Home Minister of the country? You should know that these are Congress leaders. They are not afraid of anyone and will now bow down in front of anyone.”
Surjewala said in another statement that the country will not forgive the PM Narendra Modi-led government for launching an open attack on Congress leaders and claimed that thousands are in jail.
He said,
“All day has passed, the attack continues. A deadly attack was launched on Congress Organization General Secretary, Shri KC Venugopal by targeting. MP Shaktisinh Gohil was attacked. Congress workers were beaten up. Thousands are in jail. democracy has been trampled. The country will not forgive the Modi government.”
He asked, “Is it a crime to hold peaceful protests in the country? The way in which the congress leaders are being targeted, the way in which KC Venugopal was targeted…So many of Congress leaders and party workers were beaten up on the roads today. This alone was a barbaric incident.”
‘Lucky To Survive Suspicious Hairline Crack’: Chidambaram
Meanwhile, P Chidambaram took to Twitter to announce that he was “lucky” to survive a hairline fracture. He said that he is well and will go to work tomorrow.
He tweeted, “When three big and heavy policemen bump into you, you're lucky to survive a suspicious hairline crack! Doctors have said that if the hairline is cracked, it will heal on its own in about 10 days. I am fine and will go to work tomorrow.”
'No Such Incident of Use of Force by Police Took Place'
Commenting on the allegations of injured Congress leaders, the Delhi police said in a statement on Monday evening that "no such incident of use of force by police took place as per our knowledge and no MLC case has been reported so far. Still, if there are allegations of some manhandling or so during the detention, the same will diligently be looked into for appropriate action."
The police said that the All India Congress Committee (AICC) did not have the permission to hold protests on Monday.
As per the statement, many congress leaders and workers/functionaries started proceeding to the ED office with Rahul Gandhi where he was summoned.
Senior Congress leaders, including Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, KC Venugopal and Mallikarjun Kharge were among the total 459 detained detained by the Delhi Police for not following "lawful directions of police for maintenance of law and order."
The police stated that all woman workers/functionaries detained by police have been released.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)