Opposition leaders led by Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday were taken into police custody after they Lodhi Colony police station and offered themselves for court arrest.
“Congress President, Rahul Gandhi & other leaders arrested,” Surjewala tweeted.
Rahul, along with party leaders and a massive crowd, was protesting against what they termed as the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government’s interference in (Central Bureau of Investigation) CBI’s functioning.
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The opposition gherao-ed the CBI, on Friday, to protest against the government’s decision to oust the two topmost officials of the the country’s premier investigative agency.
The Rahul Gandhi led opposition demanded the reinstatement of CBI Director Alok Verma, who was divested of his powers and sent on leave earlier this week.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has destroyed each and every institution in the country. Be it the CBI or the Election Commission. He is attacking each and every institution. And there’s only one reason behind it – Chowkidar chor hai. He has put Rs 30,000 crore in Anil Ambani’s pocket,” Rahul said.
The police barricaded the road leading to the CBI headquarters in Delhi and had to use water cannons to disperse the crowd in Chandigarh. Congress workers were alse detained by police during protests near CBI headquarters in Delhi.
#WATCH: Congress workers stage protest against the removal of CBI Chief Alok Verma in #Delhi. pic.twitter.com/BRk8Vvwvgv
— ANI (@ANI) October 26, 2018
The protest by the opposition comes even as the Supreme Court on Friday directed the Central Vigilance Commission to complete its inquiry against Alok Verma and his deputy Rakesh Asthana within two weeks.
ALSO READ: In Pictures: Opp protests to CBI headquarters across India
Reacting to the agitation, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said, “The Congress doesn’t have any people’s issues to raise which is why they are taking up these non-issues. We should wait for the investigation report.”
The protest march to the CBI headquarters was joined by top Congress leaders who demanded an apology from the PM.
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