OROP suicide row: Rahul Gandhi detained again after joining protests

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi was detained yet again today after he attempted to carry out a protest march in Jantar Mantar here against the alleged suicide by ex-servicemen Ram Kishan Grewal.

High drama ensued at Jantar Mantar when Gandhi tried to join the candle march but was almost immediately flanked by cops and taken away to Tughlaq Road Police Station.

"Day by day the Modi Government is showing its true face. All Rahul Gandhi and other Congress party workers did today was lead a peaceful march. This is the third time he has been detained in two days. We had given a notice to Delhi Police informing them about the march. This is nothing but a clear case of bullying," Congress leader Randeep Surjewala told ANI here.

Earlier today, Rahul Gandhi reached the residence of ex-serviceman Ram Kishan Grewal in Bhiwani, Haryana to attend his cremation ceremony.

Talking about his multiple detentions by the Delhi Police yesterday, Rahul stated that he was arrested for doing his job and that all he wanted to do was speak to the family of the victim.

"I was detained for doing my job. When I asked the police as to why they were doing this, they said that they had received the orders to do so from the top. Is it wrong to offer condolences? I just wanted to meet the family once. When they came out to meet me they were beaten and dragged to the police station," Rahul told the media after he was released from the Tilak Marg Police Station.

For the second time on Wednesday, Rahul Gandhi was detained after he met the family of ex-serviceman Ram Kishan Grewal, who allegedly committed suicide over the delay in implementation of the One Rank, One Pension (OROP). Earlier, Rahul was stopped close to the gates of the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and then taken to the Mandir Marg Police station.

Issuing a statement in its defence, the Delhi Police asserted that they were reduced to detaining political leaders as they had to take law and order into consideration.