Rahul 'detained' by police from Congress protest march

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi said he was "detained" by Delhi Police on Thursday as his party took out a protest march from Jantar Mantar against "disrespect" to the family of an ex-Indian Army subedar who committed suicide. Police however denied any such action.

Gandhi said he was restrained soon after he reached the venue of protest march which is to culminate at India Gate.

"They are not taking me to the police station so we are sitting here," he said pointing to the car he was in with party MP Jyotiraditya Scindia.

"I was told that I am being taken away as Section 144 (of the Criminal Procedure Code) was imposed here," he told reporters.

He slammed the Narendra Modi government, saying it "should show respect to the family" of the ex-soldier Ram Kishan Grewal who committed suicide on Tuesday over the issue of One Rank One Pension (OROP).

The Congress leader said that family of the deceased soldier had been "disrespected" and its members were detained by the police on Wednesday.

"I am demanding apology from the government as they have manhandled, abused, threatened and beaten up the family of ex-soldier in front of me in the hospital and police station. They were humilated," he said.

The 70-year-old former Rajputana Rifles subedar had committed suicide here on Tuesday evening. He was demanding immediate implementation of OROP scheme.

Congress leader Manish Tewari told IANS that police detaining Gandhi was "highly undemocratic."

"If there was violation for Section 144 why Rahul Gandhi detained alone?" he asked.

He also said that the government is trying to subvert all such peaceful protests.

Meanwhile, police refuted the Congress party's claims, saying that they have not detained Gandhi.

--IANS

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