Emergency-like situation created by government: Congress

The Congress on Saturday slammed the Central government and charged the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with doing politics over the death of an ex-serviceman, saying "an emergency-like situation has been created".

"Unfortunately, one former soldier committed suicide demanding implementation of the One Rank, One Pension (OROP) scheme...and when some political leaders went to stand by the side of the grieving family, they were stopped and the grieving family members were manhandled and beaten up," Congress leader Manish Tewari told reporters.

"So, who is doing politics over the death of the ex-soldier? The Congress or the BJP leaders and their top leadership who have brought emergency-like situation in the country?" he said.

Tewari's remarks came after BJP President Amit Shah on Saturday again accused Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi of doing politics over the death of ex-serviceman Ram Kishan Grewal, who committed suicide in the national capital on Tuesday demanding immediate implementation of OROP.

A political slugfest erupted after the death of Grewal, as Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi was detained twice on Wednesday when he tried to meet his family in Delhi. Other leaders detained by Delhi Police included Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.

Rahul Gandhi was again detained by Delhi Police on Thursday evening when he tried to take part in a protest march from Jantar Mantar to India Gate to protest against the alleged illegal detention of Grewal's family members by Delhi Police.

Lashing out at the Central government, Tewari said, "This has never happened in the country. This has happened for the first time that a public representative was stopped from meeting the grieving family."

"If an elected public representative can't go to meet the grieving family, then who will?" Tewari threw the poser.

Taking a dig at the Narendra Modi-led government, Tewari said, "In the last 28 months, an atmosphere has been created in the country that if you question the BJP and their government, then you are declared anti-national."

"This government is trying its best to finish democracy in the country," the Congress leader added.

He urged the progressive and nationalist forces to come together to fight against it.

--IANS

aks/nir/bg