On the All-India Congress Committee call for nation-wide protests to demand reinstatement of Central Bureau of Investigation’s ousted director Alok Verma and an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for “destroying the image of the premier investigating agency”, Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Raj Babbar and partymen will sit on dharna outside the CBI office on Newal Kishore Road on Friday.
On Thursday afternoon, Babbar directed party workers and leaders to reach the CBI office in Lucknow on Friday morning and protest against “unconstitutionally” divesting the CBI Director of his charge.
Babbar said the party would demand an apology from the Prime Minister for his “illegal and unconstitutional” action and seek reinstatement of Alok Verma.
In a late Tuesday night order, the Appointments Committee of Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent CBI Director Alok Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana on leave. Verma and Asthana have been at loggerheads over several issues for quite some time now.
Besides sending the top CBI officials on leave, the government also transferred several officials of the premier investigating agency and appointed M Nageswar Rao as its interim chief.
Verma moved the Supreme Court on Wednesday, challenging the government’s decision and the apex court agreed to hear his plea on Friday.