Congress workers detained ahead of Rahul Gandhi's ED appearance in National Herald case today
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New Delhi: Delhi Police on Monday detained workers of the Indian National Congress (INC) ahead of the Gandhis' appearance before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the National Herald Case.
Huge police deployment was seen outside the ED office on Monday morning and some Congress workers were detained outside the party headquarters.
More Congress workers are expected to hit the streets later in the day as the party has planned this protest as a show of strength.
Mr Gandhi is to appear today before the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is probing the money laundering case. Police have imposed prohibitory orders near the agency's office. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will accompany Mr Gandhi to the ED office, it is learnt.
Delhi Police had last night refused permission for the protest march, citing the "communal and law and order situation" and VVIP movements. The Congress leaders had urged them to reconsider the decision, but to no avail.
The party then decided to go ahead with the protest planned in Delhi and several other cities.
The Congress has been accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of using Enforcement Directorate and other central agencies to silence the voice of the Opposition.
The party has said the allegations against its leaders are "fake and baseless" and that accused the BJP of "vendetta politics".
Sonia Gandhi too has been summoned by the central agency in this case. She sought 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.
Addressing the media this morning, senior Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said the barricading of the whole of Delhi "proves that the government fears us".
"No one can oppress us, neither could the English nor can these new oppressors. We will march till the ED's office, we will choose Gandhi's path, we will fight for the rights of the poor. The Congress is the voice of the common man for 136 years," he said.
He also described the Narendra Modi government as "coward" and said the Congress is ready to make "sacrifices".
