Several Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, were detained amid a massive protest outside the party's Delhi headquarters against rising prices, unemployment and GST hike on essential items.
Led by party chief Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, Congress MPs today wore black clothes in Parliament to protest against the rising prices and unemployment. Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned today as Congress members created an uproar over the alleged misuse of probe agencies by the government.
Congress Working Committee (CWC) members and senior leaders had planned to take part in "PM House gherao" while Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs were going to hold a "Chalo Rashtrapati Bhavan" from Parliament, the party said in a statement.
The administration had imposed prohibitory orders banning large gatherings in parts of Delhi ahead of the Congress march. Citing the restrictions, Delhi police had denied permission to the Congress for holding a protest in the national capital.
Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other Congress leaders were detained by the Delhi Police when he was protesting with other Congress leaders outside the party headquarters. They are being kept at Police Lines in Delhi's Kingsway Camp.
Ahead of the protest, Rahul Gandhi said, "We're witnessing the death of democracy. What India has built brick by brick, starting almost a century ago, is being destroyed in front of your eyes. Anybody who stands against this idea of onset of dictatorship is viciously attacked, jailed, arrested and beaten up."
Mr Gandhi claimed that the sole agenda of the government is that people's issues such as price rise, unemployment and violence in society must not be raised.
The BJP hit back, asking if there is "democracy" in the Congress, which has been labelled a dynastic party.
The Delhi traffic police issued an advisory today morning saying the traffic movement will be affected in parts of Lutyens' Delhi.
Delhi police say special arrangements have been made and diversions will be suggested as per expected spots of congestion on major roads.
Congress has been continuously raising questions against the price rise and the hike in the Goods and Service Tax (GST). Congress MPs have been staging protests both inside and outside Parliament on these issues.
Source: NDTV