Punjab, Haryana Congressmen protest near CBI office in Chandigarh

Congress ministers and party members protested near the CBI office here against the Centre's move to divest agency director Alok Verma of his powers and send him on leave and they demanded an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Police had barricaded roads leading to the CBI office in Sector 30 here and after the protestors tried to cross the barricades, the police used water canons to disperse them.

The protestors had to move back from the barricades erected near the CBI office, the police said.

Several ministers, including Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Vijay Inder Singla, and were among the agitating party members.

Incharge of the Punjab Congress' affairs Asha Kumari, Punjab and Haryana Congress chiefs Sunil Kumar Jakhar and Ashok Tanwar led the protesters, the Congress said.

The Congress leaders demanded an apology from the prime minister and alleged that the "illegal, unconstitutional and illegitimate" removal of the CBI director had shamed India and its premier investigative agency.

The government Tuesday sent Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana, who accused each other of corruption, on leave.

It also transferred several CBI officials and appointed M Nageswar Rao as the interim chief of the agency.