Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to appear before the Enforcement Directorate in the National Herald case on Monday. However, the Congress has now been denied permission to hold a ‘Satyagrah’ rally in the national capital.
From the party headquarters to the office of the probe agency, the grand old party was to march. According to the news agency ANI, the Enforcement Directorate office was surrounded by a large presence of police on Monday morning.
Congress was expected to show its strength by inviting several top leaders. Amrutha Guguloth, deputy commissioner of police for New Delhi, said the Delhi Police could not allow the rally because of the “communal situation” in the capital and the presence of VVIPs in the jurisdiction.
According to ANI, some leaders were detained after sloganeering on Monday morning.
Last week, Congress leader Manickam Tagore said the party was getting ready to demonstrate at 25 offices of the probe agency across the country against political vendettas and the misuse of the central investigative agencies by the central government to “silence the voice of opposition.”
#WATCH | Delhi Police detain Congress leaders while they chant slogans in support of Rahul Gandhi ahead of his appearance before the ED today in the National Herald case.
Visuals from outside AICC headquarters, Delhi pic.twitter.com/3MijfyFO4n
On the Congress’s plan to hold the demonstrations, the BJP on Sunday launched a sharp attack. “Both Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are on bail. Rahul Gandhi is supposed to appear before the ED tomorrow. But the Congress is making a huge drama out of it. They are calling all their leaders to Delhi. What is the use of all this drama?” party spokesperson Sambit Patra said.
“What is this Satyagrah? Gandhiji would be shamed to see this fake Satyagrah of fake Gandhis. Rahulji, don’t try to escape the rule. This is a legal issue and not a political issue,” he said at a press conference.
A money-laundering case – linked with the National Herald-Associated Journals Ltd – was recently filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The National Herald – which was founded by Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru – is published by Associated Journals Limited (AJL) and owned by Young Indian Pvt Limited. Both Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are among the promoters and shareholders of Young Indian.
The case pertains to complaint by BJP’s Subramanian Swamy, which alleged corruption in transactions.
Sonia Gandhi too has been asked to appear for questioning in the case. But she took a fresh date after she tested positive for Covid. The Congress chief was hospitalised due to Covid-related issues, party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said on Sunday.
Gandhi’s appearance before the ED comes just two days before Mamata Banerjee’s opposition meet in Delhi ahead of presidential polls.
(With inputs from PTI, ANI)
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