Congress president Rahul Gandhi and senior party leaders stage a protest demanding the reinstatement of CBI Director Alok Verma outside the CBI headquarters, in New Delhi (PTI Photo/Arun Sharma)
Rahul Gandhi led a country-wide protest by the Congress against the Modi government's decision to divest CBI Director Alok Verma of his powers and send him and Special Director Rakesh Asthana on leave in a dramatic late night move on Wednesday. Despite heavy security arrangements, Rahul Gandhi, along with several top party leaders and workers reached the CBI headquarters in Delhi to stage protest.
The demonstration continued for 30 minutes during which Rahul Gandhi marched from Dayal Singh College on Lodhi Road to the CBI headquarters about a kilometre away. Rahul Gandhi even sat atop a mini-truck along with other Congress and Opposition leaders. The police even used water canon to disperse the crowd from outside the CBI office. The Congress' protests in the national capital were replicated in other parts of the country.
The Congress president, who courted arrest, was later taken to the Lodhi Road Police Station and released.
Talking to reporters after walking out of the police station, Rahul Gandhi continued his attack on PM Modi and said that every institution in the country was being ruined,
"PM can run, he can hide but in the end, truth will be revealed. Removing CBI Director will not help. PM acted against CBI Director; it was an act out of panic," Rahul Gandhi said.
Congress President Rahul Gandhi and senior party leaders at a police station after being detained. (Photo/PTI
The Congress will not allow the 'chowkidaar' (watchman) to do 'chori' (theft), Gandhi said, reiterating his charges of corruption against the prime minister and saying he had "deposited Rs 30,000 crore in Anil Ambani's pocket".
The government has already strongly defended its decision, saying it was "absolutely essential" to maintain the CBI's institutional integrity and the move was based on recommendations by the Central Vigilance Commission.
Hearing in Supreme Court
The Congress protest was held soon after the Supreme Court heard the petition of Alok Verma against the government' move. | Also Read: What the Supreme Court said
The apex court said former Supreme Court judge A K Patnaik will oversee a CVC inquiry into the allegations and counter allegations and the report has to be placed before it within two weeks.
It directed that interim CBI chief M Nageswar Rao shall not take any major policy decisions. Decisions taken by him since October 23 till date shall not be implemented, it said.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi posted the next date of hearing on November 12.
WATCH: Rahul Gandhi courts arrest outside CBI headquarters
(With inputs from PTI)
