New Delhi: Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday urging him to "give due space to the Opposition," news agency ANI reported. This comes in the wake of a row over the alleged manhandling of Congress workers during protests in Delhi on Wednesday over summons to Rahul Gandhi by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the National Herald money laundering case.
“It's a matter of serious concern that the law enforcement agencies forcefully entered the Congress Party office and unleashed violence upon the party workers,” the Congress MP wrote in his letter to the PM.
Notably, as Rahul Gandhi appeared before the ED for the third consecutive day on Wednesday, for interrogation in connection with the money laundering case, Congress leaders and workers staged massive protests against what they called the "vendetta politics" of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Chowdhury wrote, “Our workers including people’s representatives of parliament and state assemblies are beaten black and blue without any provocation much to the humiliation of and a direct affront to the democratic ethos of our country.”
Referring to an alleged assault on Congress MP Jothimani by Delhi Police, Chowdhury further wrote, “It is much abominable to note that our colleague Smt. S Jothi Mani, Member of Parliament from Tamil Nadu, was brutally assaulted by Delhi Police during this agitation. Her clothes were torn down let alone physical and mental torture…during the detention period in the police station, she was not provided any medical aid. Is this how a lady Hon’ble Member of Parliament is treated? As a result of police beating, her health has deteriorated further and now she has been hospitalised.”
Urging the Prime Minister to ensure the core essence of democracy, that is freedom of speech and expressing, he further urged the PM to ensure due and legitimate space for the opposition viewpoint.
It is to be noted that SP Hooda, Special CP (L&O) said that Congress workers threw barricades at police near AICC office and there might have been a scrimmage.
"But police didn't go inside the AICC office and use lathi charge. Police are not using any force. We will appeal to them to coordinate with us," SP Hooda said.