CBI row: Congress workers hold demos in TN, Pondy

Congress workers in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Friday staged demonstration in front of central government offices as part of nation-wide protest called by the party chief Rahul Gandhi against CBI Director Alok Verma being divested of powers.

The cadres carried placards and shouted slogans denouncing the BJP-led government at the Centre.

Addressing protesters near Shastri Bhavan in Chennai where the CBI zonal office is located, TNCC President Su Thirunavukkarasar repeated Gandhi's accusations and said the Centre intended to remove the central agency's director to 'disrupt' probe into the Rafale deal.

The Congress has alleged a scam in the purchase of the French made fighter aircraft.

Calling the action against Verma an "undemocratic move," Thirunavukkarasar said the decision 'destroyed' credibility of the country's apex investigating agency.

Early this week, the Centre had sent Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana, who have accused each other of corruption, on leave on Tuesday.

The government has strongly defended its decision, saying it was "absolutely essential" to maintain the CBI's institutional integrity and the move was based on recommendations by the Central Vigilance Commissioner.

State Congress leaders including former TNCC chief KV Thangkabalu, Kumari Ananthan along with over 200 workers took part in the protest that witnessed altercations with the police, who removed the protesters.

In Puducherry, AICC secretary Sanjay Dutt protesting outside head post office, accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "misusing the CBI as an extended wing of the BJP."
Taking swipes at Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi, Dutt said, "Bedi is remote-controlled by Modi to undermine the democratically elected government headed by Congress Chief Minister V Narayanasamy here."
Addressing the protesters, Narayanasamy alleged that Modi was functioning in an "authoritarian manner."