Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi was detained twice in four hours and later released when he went to meet the family members of ex-serviceman Ram Kishan Grewal, who committed suicide allegedly over the One Rank One Pension (OROP) issue in Delhi on Wednesday.
After being released, he addressed the media and said:
I told the police to at least release Grewal’s kin. I asked why are you doing this? The policeman said that he has been given orders. At least the government should ask for forgiveness to this family. I tried to meet his family for two minutes only to say I understand the difficult position you are in and that I am with you. But I was detained. Did I make a mistake?
All the other leaders who were detained have been released, Delhi Police said in a press conference, adding that the family members of the deceased army man was cooperating with the the police.
Grewal, who allegedly committed suicide over OROP, was one of the recipients of benefits under the revised pension scheme, Defence ministry sources said.
However, Grewal had received a lesser amount as part of the One Rank One Pension scheme under the 6th pay commission due to an error in calculation by the SBI bank branch in Haryana’s Bhiwani district. The matter was being looked into, the sources said.
They said the deceased soldier had not sought an appointment with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar either at his office or home.
Congress leaders Randeep Surjewala and Kiran Choudhary, Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindia, Ajay Maken, Sajjan Kumar, Raj Babbar, Bhupinder Hooda, Shakeel Ahmed have all been detained along with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia, were also detained.
When his car got gheraoed outside Lady Hardinge Hospital Kejriwal said:
Police gheraoed my vehicle. I don’t know how long they will stop me. The PM has gone around and said that OROP has been implemented but obviously he lied, why else would someone commit suicide? Instead of rewarding the army for surgical strikes, they’re taking away their basic rights and then asking for votes because they conducted the surgical strikes.Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi Chief Minister
West Bengal CM Mamata Bannerjee voiced her support for Rahul and AAP ministers and condemned their detention.
Ex-Serviceman’s Kin Allegedly Beaten Up
The family members of the deceased servicemen were also detained by the police. The ex-serviceman’s son claimed in a video footage that he was beaten up by the police.
In a video shot in the police station, Rahul Gandhi is seen asking the police officers, “How can you arrest a martyr's kin? Aren't you ashamed for arresting him? What kind of a law is this?”
Seated on a chair at the Mandir Marg police station, Gandhi threw the question at a visibly uncomfortable police officer who was trying to explain the reason why the Congress leader had been detained after he tried to meet the family of ex-serviceman Ram Kishan Grewal.
At a later stage, Gandhi told the officer to "at least let the veteran's family go".
Speaking on the matter, General (retired) VK Singh, who is now minister of state for external affairs, said that the OROP issue shouldn’t be politicised.
OROP should be kept away from politics, that will be better. Rahul Gandhi should not politicise this. The reason for his (Garehwal’s) suicide being reported is OROP, don’t know what his mental state was, need investigation.
Singh’s comment was swiftly responded to by Delhi CM Kejriwal.
Security personnel had stopped and detained AAP’s Manish Sisodia too. Speaking to the media, Kejriwal said:
If a person commits suicide in my area, should I not be concerned? The Deputy CM was detained, there’s a cabinet meeting at 4, how will it happen. So will they be arrested so that they can’t carry on with their governmental duties? Central government is working with the use of brute force.
Delhi ACB Chief MK Meena told reporters that Rahul Gandhi has been detained for trying to enter the hospital despite being advised otherwise. He added that AAP leaders “who came to create disturbance at the hospital” have also been detained.
It’s a hospital and not a place for demonstration. Family members detained as well as they are contacting political leaders and holding demonstration here. Democracy doesn’t mean creating obstruction. Leaders must also understand that hospital is not the place to hold any demonstrations.MK Meena, Delhi ACB Chief
Rahul Gandhi added that the ex-serviceman’s family wants to meet him too and they weren’t allowed to come outside. He said that he’s certain he’ll meet the family later.
Grewal’s dead body was shifted to Lady Hardinge hospital for post-mortem, officials said.
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