Sonia Gandhi arrived at the Mandir Marg police station in Delhi, where Priyanka Gandhi has already been released, while Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav are expected to be freed shortly once the paperwork is completed by the Delhi Police.
A Key Meeting At The DCP Office
The developments began with an important meeting at the New Delhi DCP office, where Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar and Special Commissioner (Law and Order) Devesh Srivastava sat down with all special commissioners to review the situation. Commissioner Anurag Kumar left the meeting shortly after, while the rest of the special commissioners continued deliberating. It was in this meeting that the decision was taken to release Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and the other detained leaders once the required paperwork was completed.
Leaders Booked Under Section 65 Of The Delhi Police Act
All the Congress leaders were booked under Section 65 of the Delhi Police Act, referred to as the 65 DP Act. Under this provision, if a person refuses to comply with, resists, or disregards reasonable and lawful directions given by a police officer, the officer is empowered to remove that person from the spot and take them into custody without a warrant. It was on this basis that the opposition leaders were detained.
Protest On Lok Kalyan Marg Led To The Detentions
The detentions followed a protest by several opposition leaders on Lok Kalyan Marg, after which the Delhi Police took them into custody and brought them to the police station a short while earlier. Sonia Gandhi, chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party, reached the Mandir Marg police station herself to check on the detained leaders and keep track of the release process.
Sachin Pilot Slams The Government
Congress leader Sachin Pilot said the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, along with around 100 to 150 MPs, were protesting over a specific demand. He strongly condemned the treatment meted out to young people the previous day, which included a lathicharge and attacks on students. According to Pilot, the government should have sought the resignation of the education minister, withdrawn the FIRs filed against students and issued a clear statement on the paper leak issue, but instead several leaders were removed from the spot. He also questioned the forcible removal of the Leader of Opposition from the Lok Sabha, pointing out that the road renamed Lok Kalyan Marg was exactly where Rahul Gandhi had gone for public welfare. Calling it a black day for democracy, Pilot said, "The way Rahul Gandhi was dragged is intolerable." He added that people are angry and want justice, and that the party will ensure justice is delivered.
