New Delhi: The Congress said lakhs of party workers across the country will hold peaceful protests on Monday against the "anti-youth" Agnipath scheme and the Modi government's "vendetta politics" in targeting Rahul Gandhi. A delegation of Congress leaders will also meet President Ram Nath Kovind to bring to his notice the alleged manhandling and harassment of party MPs by the Delhi Police during their protests against Rahul Gandhi's questioning by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case.
Meanwhile, in Bihar, police are on high alert on account of demonstrations and call for Bharat Bandh by some organisations on June 20. Schools and educational institutions are closed as a precautionary measure in the city. Internet services have been banned in 20 districts of the state. The Home Department has issued instructions to all the District Magistrates to keep a close watch on sensitive places and take strict action against miscreants. Central paramilitary forces have also been deployed in many districts.
Over 350 trains will remain cancelled in Bihar, which has caused trouble for many passengers. Along with this, in Bihar, the railways have made a big announcement not to run any train from 4 am to 8 pm. A total of 145 FIRs have been registered so far in various districts regarding the uproar against the Agneepath scheme in Bihar. So far 804 people have been arrested. FIRs have also been registered against six coaching institutes.
Also read: Agnipath row: 9 arrested in 3 UP districts, job aspirants block highway in Punjab
In Delhi, the ED had allowed Gandhi's request to defer his questioning in the National Herald money-laundering case from June 17 to June 20 owing to his mother Sonia Gandhi's hospitalisation, officials had said on Thursday. Taking to Twitter, party general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "Tomorrow lakhs of Congress workers across the country will continue peaceful protests against the anti-youth Agnipath scheme & against Modi Govt's vendetta politics targeting its leader Shri Rahul Gandhi, MP."
"A Congress delegation will also meet the President in the evening," he said. Senior Congress leaders, including Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, party's leader in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, P Chidambaram, KC Venugopal and Ramesh, are set to meet Kovind and apprise him of about the "unprovoked manhandling" of party MPs, which it alleged was in violation of all democratic norms.
Separate delegations of Congress leaders have already met Rajya Sabha chairman and Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and have sought action for violation of the rights of MPs and asked them to treat the same as privilege notices. Congress had put up strong protests against the ED's questioning. The police had imposed prohibitory orders in central Delhi and the Congress leaders were detained for violating the restrictions.
Stepping up its attack on the Centre, the Congress on Sunday held a 'Satyagraha' here in support of those protesting the government's Agnipath scheme. Rahul Gandhi had appealed to party leaders and workers not to celebrate his birthday on Sunday. In a message to them, he had said Saturday night that the youngsters of the country were anguished and protesting on the streets and the Congress workers should stand with them. (With Agency inputs)
