Pawan Khera Detained Over Cases In Assam. Congress Terms Action 'Undemocratic', Alleges Dictatorship

The Congress workers began a protest at Delhi airport after Pawan Khera was deplaned from a flight. Delhi Police said that he was stopped after a request was received from Assam Police.

New Delhi: Senior Congress leaders were detained on Thursday after they staged a protest at Delhi airport as the party's senior leader Pawan Khera was deplaned from Delhi-Raipur Indigo flight 6E-204. The grand old party criticised the Modi government, alleging a "dictatorial" move ahead of the Congress party's 85th plenary session, scheduled to take place in Raipur from February 24 to 26.

In a video, Congress leader Supriya Shrinate said that they were being detained and remarked, "If this is not dictatorship then what is this? Is this the reality of freedom of expression?". Citing previous remarks such as "Congress ki vidhva" (Congress's widow) and other insults, she demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi be arrested and then action be taken against others.

Delhi Police said that Pawan Khera was stopped from boarding a plane at Delhi airport after a request was received from Assam Police to stop him, news agency ANI reported.

"A case has been registered against Congress leader Pawan Khera at Haflong police station in Assam's Dima Hasao district. A team of Assam police left for Delhi to take remand of Pawan Khera in connection with the case," Prasanta Kumar Bhuyan, IGP Law & Order and Spokesperson of Assam police, said.

Speaking about the incident, Pawan Khera said, "I was told there is a problem with your luggage, even though I only have one handbag. When came down from the flight, I was told that you cannot go. Then it was said – DCP will meet you. I've been waiting for a long time. There is no trace of rules, laws and reasons."

Meanwhile, Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh took to Twitter and remarked, "First ED raided Raipur, now @Pawankhera has been offloaded from Raipur by Delhi Police. Another name for dictatorship is Amit Shahi. The Modi government wants to disrupt our national convention. We are not afraid, will continue to fight for the countrymen."

"Freedom of Speech is slowly weakening in India, but Freedom AFTER Speech is fast becoming extinct. My colleague @Pawankhera was deplaned from a Raipur-bound flight. After ED raids, another attempt to derail Congress Plenary. Murder of Democratic India is the right acronym for Him," he wrote in another tweet, sharing Pawan Khera's video statement.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot condemned the Assam Police directive tweeting, "While going from Delhi to Raipur to attend the Congress session, senior Congress leader Mr. Pawan Khera was taken off the flight by the Assam Police. What was the emergency that the Assam Police came to Delhi and did this act? Earlier ED raids in Raipur and now such act shows BJP's fury. This is condemnable."

Assam Police To Arrest Pawan Khera: Report

Meanwhile, news agency ANI has reported sources as saying that CISF personnel have been deployed to handle the situation as per rules.

"Airport Police including DCP present at the spot to legally arrest Pawan Khera at the request of Assam Police. Assam Police officials also present at the airport. No impact on the movement of flights," ANI reported sources as saying.

Senior Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said that Khera was stopped citing an FIR by Assam Police, "Today we were going for the Congress Plenary Sessoin to Raipur, and our colleague Pawan Khera was told that he left his luggage but he was not carrying any luggage. Then the Police came and said Assam Police has registered an FIR."

"We asked them to show an arrest warrant but they did not show any order. It is completely illegal Assam and Delhi Police have stopped our flight forcefully," he claimed.

This comes after the ED on Monday conducted raids at more than a dozen locations in Chhattisgarh including at premises linked to state Congress leaders as part of an ongoing probe into the alleged coal levy scam.

Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel had called the raids a "politically motivated" move. He alleged it was an attempt to divert attention ahead of the party's plenary session.