Congress workers also held protests in Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Kerala, among other states.
Chaotic scenes were witnessed as Mr
Gandhi, accompanied by sister and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi
Vadra, headed towards the ED's office it amid party workers' slogans against
the central government.
The Congress march made it through
two points of barricading but was stopped at the third where Delhi Police had
deployed heavy force. After Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra proceeded forward,
many Congress leaders started a sit-in. Ms Gandhi Vadra dropped her brother at
the ED office and then left.
Subsequently, top Congress leaders
were detained and put on buses. They were then taken to police stations. Ms
Gandhi Vadra reached the Tughlaq Road police station to meet party leaders,
including Congress general secretary KC Venugopal.
Police had imposed prohibitory orders today near the
agency's office. Permission for the protest march was refused last night, with
the police citing "communal and law and order situation" and VVIP
movements.
The Congress, however, decided to go ahead with the countrywide
protest that was planned as a show of strength. Protests were held in Madhya
Pradesh, Assam, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Kerala, among other states.
Addressing the media this morning, Congress leader
Randeep Singh Surjewala said the barricading of the whole of Delhi "proves
that the government fears us". He described the Narendra Modi government
as "coward" and said the Congress is ready to make
"sacrifices".
The Congress has been accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and
Home Minister Amit Shah of using central agencies to silence the Opposition.
The party has said the allegations against its leaders are "fake and
baseless" and accused the BJP of "vendetta politics".
The ED's probe pertains to alleged financial irregularities in the Congress-promoted Young Indian Private limited that owns the National Herald newspaper.
The newspaper is published by Associated Journals Limited (AJL) and owned by Young Indian Private Limited.Rahul Gandhi is likely to be questioned about the incorporation of the Young Indian company, operations of the National Herald and the funds transfer within the news media establishment.
The Congress leader later left the ED office on a lunch break.Sonia Gandhi too has been summoned in this case. She had sought more time after she tested Covid positive.
The agency has now issued her a fresh summons for June 23. Last afternoon, the Congress chief had to be admitted to a hospital in Delhi due to Covid-related issues.
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