Cong on streets ahead of RaGa’s appearance before ED

New Delhi, June 13 : Congress leaders across ranks joined party workers to stage protests on Monday holding placards in support of their former chief Rahul Gandhi ahead of his appearance before the Enforcement Directorate in the National Herald case.

Roads across Central Delhi were blocked as hundreds of Congress protesters were detained to prevent a planned march by Gandhi, party members and supporters to the ED office from the Congress headquarters.

Almost the entire top leadership of the party, including two Chief Ministers Ashok Gehlot from Rajasthan and Bhupesh Baghel from Chhattisgarh along with party’s Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members staged a protest holding placards and raising slogans at AICC headquarters.

Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said: “We will go ahead with our march, we will see what they can do.”

Ahead of the appearance, heavy police deployment was seen in Central Delhi with all entries and exits from the Congress HQ blocked.

Police lined up buses to detain protesters.

Congress national spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala slammed the Centre and told the media here: “Modi government has imposed an undeclared emergency in the whole Central Delhi area, hundreds of barricades have come up, thousands of Congress workers have been arrested overnight and the process is still going on.

“Thousands of police personnel have been deployed. Why? Is there any threat to Modi government,” asked the Congress leader.

“Jhukega nahi”, Congress workers shouted holding up placards in support of Rahul Gandhi.

“‘Satya ka Sangram’ will continue under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi. Even the British could not suppress the voice of Congress during the freedom struggle, then how can this ruling govt? said Surjewala.

“We’ll hold a peaceful protest march to the ED office under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi. We’re the protectors of the Constitution, we will not bow down or be scared. By deploying a large police force, it has been proven that Modi govt is shaken by Cong,” Surjewala added.

Karti Chidambaram, the other Congress MP who is already being probed in another case by central agencies, said: “We’re here from various parts of India to show solidarity with our party leadership and show the nation the blatant misuse of ED.

“All cases of ED are bogus…I’ve got ED notices the maximum times, so I’m the resident expert in Congress in the matters of ED.” Gehlot said: “What is wrong with holding a peaceful protest march against the misuse of central agencies by the ruling government?”

Party leader TS Singh Deo, also said: “Congress leaders will stay united. Police are being used for a different purpose, but we will continue to carry forward our work.”

The National Herald case pertains to allegations of financial irregularities during the acquisition of Associated Journals Limited (AJL) by the Gandhi-owned Young Indian Limited in 2010.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi was also summoned by the ED on June 8, but she could not attend after testing positive for Covid-19. She was admitted to Ganga Ram hospital on Sunday, and she is under observation.

As per the complaint filed in the court of the Metropolitan Magistrate, AJL took an interest-free loan of Rs 90.25 crore from Indian National Congress, which was not paid back.

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