Several Mahila Congress leaders and party workers including 18 Members of Parliament (MPs) were on Tuesday detained after they staged a protest against the Enforcement Directorate for questioning Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case.
Congress leader Alka Lamba alleged that she was manhandled by the police. The Mahila Congress workers were seen holding the Preamble of the Indian constitution and chanting slogans against the government.
According to police, total 197 persons, including 18 Members of Parliament, were detained under section 65 Delhi Police (DP) Act to maintain public order in the area.
“On July 20, an application was received from the Secretary, All India Congress Committee (AICC) for grant of permission to hold a Satyagraha at the Jantar Mantar. The programme was to be held against the Agnipath Scheme and appearance of Rahul Gandhi, MP (Lok Sabha) in the Enforcement Directorate (ED),” said Dr Sagar Preet Hooda, the Special Commissioner of Police, law and order.
“The permission was granted subject to the condition that only 1,000 party workers will be allowed at the protest site. But instead of holding the Dharna at Jantar Mantar, the protestors assembled at AICC Headquarters 24 Akbar Road and marched out in the form of a procession in violation of the prohibitory orders promulgated under section 144 CrPC in force,” said the Special CP.
“Police personnel maintained utmost restraint and preserved peace but while detaining the congress workers in order to maintain law and order, one of the protestors namely Netta D'Souza, President-All India Mahila Congress, obstructed/assaulted the police personnel on duty and spitted over them for which criminal case is being registered under appropriate sections of law,” said the Special CP.