Delhi: Chidambaram suffers rib fracture during Congress protest against ED
What's the story
Congress leader and former Union minister P Chidambaram suffered a fracture in his left rib on Monday. He was allegedly pushed by Delhi Police personnel during the party's protest outside the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) office against the questioning of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi. "When three big, burly policemen crash into you, you are lucky to get away with a suspected hairline crack!" Chidambaram tweeted.
Context
Why does this story matter?
The Congress planned a march to the ED office on Monday to demonstrate a political show of strength as Gandhi appeared for questioning in a money laundering case related to National Herald newspaper. The party sees the ED summons to its senior leaders as a political vendetta and wants to counter the ED. However, the Delhi Police denied it permission to hold a march.
Twitter Post
Take a look at what Chidambaram tweeted
When three big, burly policemen crash into you, you are lucky to get away with a suspected hairline crack!
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) June 13, 2022
Doctors have said that if there is a hairline crack, it will heal by itself in about 10 days
I am fine and I will go about my work tomorrow
Delhi Police
459 party workers, functionaries detained
On Monday, when Gandhi was going to the ED office, chaotic scenes were witnessed in Delhi as Congress workers protested and sloganeered in his support. Nearly 459 party members were detained in various police stations during the Congress's "Satyagraha" march. Senior Congress leaders Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, KC Venugopal, and Mallikarjun Kharge were also detained. The leaders alleged they were also manhandled by the police.
Video message
Surjewala alleges cops manhandled senior Congress leaders
Accusing the Delhi Police of manhandling Congress leaders, party spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala tweeted a video message. He said Congress MP Pramod Tiwari suffered a head injury after being thrown onto the road. "Modi government has crossed every limit of barbarism. Former Home Minister [Chidambaram] was hit by police...[Tiwari] was thrown on the road. He has head injury and rib fracture (sic)," he stated.
Twitter Post
Check out Surjewala's video message
मोदी सरकार बर्बरता की हर हद पार कर गई।
— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) June 13, 2022
पूर्व गृह मंत्री, श्री पी.चिदंबरम के साथ पुलिस की धक्कामुक्की हुई, चश्मा ज़मीन पर फेंका, उनकी बायीं पसलियों में हेयरलाइन फ्रैक्चर है।
सांसद प्रमोद तिवाड़ी को सड़क पर फेंका गया। सिर में चोट और पसली में फ्रैक्चर है।
क्या यह प्रजातंत्र है? pic.twitter.com/rRLOhIOTJ3
Law and order
Police had denied permission for protest march
Gandhi was surrounded by party workers, who marched to the ED office from Congress headquarters on Monday, despite the police denying them permission for a protest march citing law and order issues. Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), Sagar Singh Kalsi, said despite the AICC secretary's assurance that the gathering wouldn't accompany VIPs to the ED office, hundreds of workers marched with Gandhi.
Details
Sonia Gandhi hospitalized with post-COVID-19 complications
The ED had on June 1 summoned Congress chief Sonia Gandhi as well as her son in connection with the case. The Congress chief was earlier required to be present before the ED on June 8 (Wednesday). However, after she tested positive for the COVID-19 infection and her subsequent hospitalization on Sunday, she will now depose on June 23.
Case
What do we know about the money laundering case?
The case in which the Gandhis have been summoned relates to accusations of fraud and theft of National Herald funds in the purchase of the newspaper. They are accused of obtaining the National Herald assets by purchasing the former publisher of the newspaper, Associated Journals Limited (AJL), through another company Young India (YI) Limited, in which they had an 86% share.