Ranchi: Congress workers staged a protest against central government and BJP outside BJP headquarters in Ranchi after a court rejected Enforcement Directorate chargesheet filed against Sonia Gandhi and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in National Herald case. Protest was led by Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee president Keshav Mahato Kamlesh.
Earlier in day, Congress leaders and workers gathered at Harmu Ground and marched towards BJP office, raising slogans against BJP-led Union government and accusing it of misusing central agencies. March culminated in gherao and demonstration in front of BJP headquarters.
Addressing protesters, Keshav Mahato Kamlesh alleged that central government had crossed all limits by misusing investigative agencies without even registering an FIR. He said Modi government attempted to frame false cases against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi through ED with sole intention of maligning their image and weakening Congress, but court order dismissing chargesheet upheld dignity of Constitution and independence of judiciary.
He further alleged that Union government was continuously targeting opposition leaders using ED and CBI and intimidating elected representatives of non-BJP ruled states. According to him, court verdict exposed BJP and central government before people of country.
Calling it one of rarest cases, Kamlesh said neither any money transaction nor transfer of property took place, yet ED registered money laundering case. He alleged Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were subjected to hours of questioning under pretext of investigation, amounting to mental harassment. He also claimed this was perhaps only PMLA case registered on basis of a private criminal complaint, whereas such cases are usually initiated by constitutional agencies or police.
Following court order, Kamlesh demanded immediate resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, stating they no longer had moral right to remain in office.
Several senior Congress leaders, including state co-incharge Siribela Prasad, Congress Legislature Party leader Pradeep Yadav, former state president Rajesh Thakur, along with party functionaries, MLAs and workers, were present during protest.