A war of words ensued between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), following the former's 'Satyagraha' March in solidarity with Rahul Gandhi as he appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the National Herald money laundering case, on Monday, 13 June.
Senior Congress leaders, including Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and Ashok Gehlot, were detained on Monday morning for sloganeering and protesting without permission. While BJP leaders termed the march "Jashn-e-Bhrashtachar," Congress leaders retorted that they were protesting peacefully and not "instigating riots like the BJP."
'Their Corruption Has Been Exposed': Smriti Irani
"Why is the Gandhi family interested in a former newspaper publishing company which is now running real estate business...This shows that not just 'Jijaji' (Rahul Gandhi's brother-in-law Robert Vadra) but entire Gandhi family is fascinated by real estate," Union Minister and BJP MP Smriti Irani, said while addressing a press conference at the party headquarters in New Delhi.
She had earlier said that Congress leaders have taken to the streets to pressurise an investigating agency openly because their corruption has been exposed.
"It's an attempt to protect the assets of the Gandhi family," she added.
'Congress Is Doing Jashn-e-Bhrashtachar': Sambit Patra
"What Congress is doing today is 'Jashn-e-Bhrashtachar'- celebrating corruption. Congress has yet again tried launching Rahul Gandhi module from the pad of corruption, we assure that he will meet the same fate, he will fail yet again," Patra told ANI.
"The world is seeing how even corruption can have 'Satyagraha.' Mahatma Gandhi taught world to fight for truth while Congress teaching world to celebrate corruption and fight for it. Gandhis are out on bail, it's not a political case," he added.
He also called the 'Satyagraha' a typical case of thieves making noise, on Twitter.
'Rahul Proved He Did Something Wrong': Himanta Biswa Sarma
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma accused Rahul Gandhi of bringing his supporters to "scare the ED" with his "so-called popularity." He said that Rahul has nothing to fear if he is innocent, as per ANI.
"Rahul Gandhi is an MP of this country. When ED summoned him, he should appear before them and present his side before ED officers. After that law will take its own course. India's law is so strong that you will never be punished if you are innocent," he said.
"But what does it mean if you go to the ED office with your supporters, CMs, and MPs – like you will file a nomination? It means that you want to scare ED; that ED gets scared of your so-called popularity and takes no action against you," Sarma added.
He remarked that appearing before the ED "with an army" only proves that Rahul Gandhi is guilty.
"Through his drama, Rahul Gandhi has proven that he has done something wrong. Otherwise, he would've gone there silently and given a statement to media later. But procession was taken out and he appeared before ED with an army. India has changed, nobody will be scared of you now."
'Modi Government Shaken By Congress': Randeep Surjewala
Fighting back, Congress' General Secretary Randeep Surjewala said that the BJP had imposed an 'undeclared emergency' in Delhi.
"The coward Modi government has deployed many police barriers and police personnel and imposed an undeclared emergency in Central Delhi. This proves that the Modi government is shaken by Congress," he said.
In a tweet, he said that "the Modi Government is hiding behind the police just like the British did."
Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who has been detained at Tughlakabad Police Station, earlier said that they weren't 'deliberately' being given permission to march.
"We urged Amit Shah to allow us but to no avail. We believe in peaceful protest and not instigating riots like BJP," he added.
'Suppressing Different Ideologies': Sachin Pilot
Former Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot told ANI that this was an attempt by the BJP to suppress different ideologies. He added that the cases were being re-opened to "misuse agencies like the Enforcement Directorate."
'All Cases of ED Are Bogus': Karti Chidambaram
Meanwhile Congress MP, and Union Minister P Chidambaram’s son, Karti Chidambaram, who is undergoing investigation by the ED himself, said:
''We're here from various parts of India to show solidarity with our party leadership and show the nation the blatant misuse of ED. All cases of ED are bogus...I've got ED notices the maximum times, so I'm the resident expert in Congress in the matters of ED."
'Does Home Ministry think freedom of assembly is not for citizens?': Tharoor
Meanwhile, Shashi Tharoor took a jibe at the elaborate security arrangements made by the Delhi Police for the Congress, in a tweet.
'Nothing but Politics': Mallikarjun Kharge
Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge accused the central government of harassing the Gandhis and said that Congress leaders will continue to fight.
He said:
"This is nothing but politics. We condemn this...Had there been a legal point in this case, it would not have taken 8 years (for action). This is their method to harass people, but we will not be scared. We will continue to fight."
Kharge added, "We're doing Satyagraha. No substance in false case of National Herald. To harass Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, they're called to ED office. If they want to say something, it can be done through their lawyers. But making them sit for 4 hours and harass them is a political vendetta."
(With inputs from ANI.)
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