Guwahati: Assam Police detained the leaders of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC), including President Bhupen Borah following a protest at Rajiv Bhawan against the summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate to party leader Rahul Gandhi. The Congress leader has been questioned by the investigation agency for the third day.
Congress leaders organised a protest against Rahul Gandhi’s ED summons on Monday after which they were imprisoned.
They were marching from Rajiv Bhawan to the ED office in Chandmari when the police detained the supporters at Bhangagarh.
Police had been stationed outside Rajiv Bhawan and barricades had been built to block the rally. The police arrested the demonstrators when they attempted to break through the barricades. They were eventually freed.
They also held a protest march on Wednesday, following which they were detained by police. Borah claims Rahul is being questioned in order to minimise the Nupur Sharma outrage. “Rahul Gandhi was given a clean chit in 2015 on the same accusation filed by the ED.” The ED is being used to shift attention away from the Nupur Sharma case, which has soiled the Prime Minister’s reputation around the world,” Borah told media persons.
Several Congress members including those who were considering defection, joined the protest march to show their support for Rahul Gandhi. Deputy CLP leader Rakibul Hussain, MLA Nurul Hooda, and MP Abdul Khaleque, among others, joined the demonstration, as did members of the party’s other wings.