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Rahul Gandhi, the Congress's leader, arrived to the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) office today for questioning in the National Herald money laundering case, following a massive demonstration on the streets of Delhi.
As Mr Gandhi and his sister, Congress national secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, approached the ED's office, chaotic scenes were witnessed, with party workers chanting anti-government slogans.
The Congress march passed through two points of barricading before being stopped at the third, where Delhi Police had stationed a large number of officers. Many Congress leaders began a sit-in when Rahul Gandhi and his advisers moved forward. Ms Gandhi Vadra retreated.
Top Congress leaders were detained and placed on buses as a result. They were taken to police stations after that. Ms Gandhi Vadra went to the Tughlaq Road police station to meet with party leaders, including KC Venugopal, the Congress national secretary.
Prohibition orders have been issued near the agency's office today. The police declined permission for the protest march last night, citing "community and law and order situations" as well as VVIP movements as reasons.
The Congress, on the other hand, opted to go ahead with the planned nationwide protest as a show of force. Protests were staged across the country, including in Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Kerala.
Randeep Singh Surjewala, a Congress lawmaker, told the media this morning that the government's barricading of the entire city "proves that the government fears us." He called Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government "cowardly" and stated that the Congress is willing to make "sacrifices."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have been accused by the Congress of utilising central agencies to stifle the opposition. The BJP has been accused of "vendetta politics" by the party, which has dismissed the claims against its leaders as "false and unsubstantiated."
The ED's probe refers to potential financial irregularities in the Congress-promoted Young Indian Private limited that owns the National Herald newspaper. The newspaper is published by Associated Journals Limited (AJL) and owned by Young Indian Private Limited.
Rahul Gandhi is expected to be questioned about the Young Indian company's formation, the National Herald's operations, and the transfer of funds within the news media system.
In this case, Sonia Gandhi has also been called. She had requested extra time after testing positive for Covid. A new summons has been issued by the agency for June 23. Due to Covid-related concerns, the Congress chairman had to be hospitalised to a Delhi hospital yesterday afternoon.