CBI row: Cong activists in J'khand stage protest, burn effigy

Activists and leaders of Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee (JPCC) on Friday staged a demonstration outside CBI office in Dhanbad, as part of the party's nationwide protest against the decision of the Centre to send the agency's director, Alok Verma, on leave.

At Ranchi, the party workers burnt an effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that the NDA government's action against Verma was "illegal and unconstitutional".

The Centre on Wednesday divested Verma and special director Rakesh Asthana of their powers and sent the two feuding officials on leave.

Verma had reportedly opposed Asthana's elevation as the special director of the premiere agency on the ground that he was being probed in a graft case.

JPCC spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan said the party plans to hold another demonstration against the Centre's decision, in the state capital on Monday.

"Our party workers in Dhanbad, under the leadership of district president B P Singh, staged a demonstration in front of the CBI office, seeking immediate reinstatement of Verma. We plan to hold another similar demonstration on Monday in Ranchi," Ranjan added.