Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said that the Congress satyagraha over MP Rahul Gandhi's ongoing questioning by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) won't stop. "We are [Mahatma] Gandhi's heirs. We will once again walk, our satyagraha won't stop," he said.
Rahul was questioned for over 10 hours by the Enforcement Directorate in a money-laundering probe linked to the National Herald newspaper, and was called to depose again on Tuesday as his party protested across the country alleging that the Centre was targeting the Opposition by misusing agencies.
Rahul, who appeared before a central probe agency for the first time for questioning, arrived at the ED office at 11.10am on Monday accompanied by a battery of leaders including sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and escorted by armed CRPF personnel. He was given an 80-minute break in the afternoon. He left the ED office around 11.10pm after questioning.
Hundreds of Congress workers in Delhi and state capitals took to the streets and several senior leaders, including Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Randeep Surjewala and K.C. Venugopal, were detained here amid a massive show of strength by the party which had called for the Satyagraha march against the ED summons.
The top leaders of the party were released from police detention around 11.30pm soon after Rahul Gandhi left the Enforcement Directorate office. The principal opposition party alleged that the Delhi police made a "murderous attack" on its leader Venugopal and others, with former home minister P. Chidambaram and Pramod Tiwari sustaining hairline rib fracture.
The Delhi Police said while no incident of injuries due to the use of force by police has come to its knowledge, it will diligently probe any such complaint and take appropriate action. It said 459 people were detained, including 26 MPs and five MLAs, and all women and functionaries have been released. Lashing out at the government for "not allowing"' peaceful protest, Congress leaders said they would not kowtow to the Modi government and vowed to continue their agitation.
