NEW DELHI: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday led an Opposition protest outside the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) headquarters in the capital against the “illegal” removal of the agency’s chief Alok Verma. He later courted arrest at the Lodhi Colony police station over the issue along with party veterans Ahmed Patel and Ashok Gehlot even as hundreds workers demonstrated outside.
Keeping in line with Gandhi’s call for a nationwide stir, state units of the party also held demonstrations outside CBI offices in various cities. The party has alleged that Verma was removed from his post illegally by the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in the Centre because Verma was about to start an investigation into the Rafale fighter jet deal. The party has demanded that Verma, who was sent of forced leave along with the agency’s Special Director Rakesh Asthana, be reinstated.
Various opposition parties including the Trinamool Congress (TMC), the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Communist Party of India (Marxist) joined the protest. Loktantrik Janata Dal leader Sharad Yadav, CPI’s D Raja and the TMC’s Nadimul Haque were also present.
“This is the CBI office and all of us are standing in front of it. There are people inside the building and police personnel are also standing outside. I want to tell them that we have no intention to attack the institution but it is the Prime Minister who is constantly attacking institutions. It may be the CBI, the Election Commission of India, the Legislative Assemblies or the Lok Sabha, Narendra Modi is attacking all these Institutions,” Rahul said.
As Gandhi said “Narendra Modi”, several in the crowd responded saying “Chowkidar chor hai. (The guard is a thief)”The Congress chief reiterated his allegation that the PM put `30,000 crore in the pocket of Anil Ambani. “The Congress party, CPI and other Opposition parties will not allow the ‘Chowkidar’ to indulge in such acts of theft,” Rahul said.
On a query related to the Supreme Court order on a probe against CBI chief Verma, Rahul refused to comment. “That is a procedure that is carrying on. I do not want to comment on that, but, what I will say is that the PM acted against the director of the CBI as a result of panic,” he said.