Stop ‘misusing’ agencies to silence opposition: Indian bloc MPs stage anti-govt protest

Several MPs from the INDIA bloc staged a protest in the Parliament premises on July 1 against the alleged misuse of investigative agencies by the government to “target” opposition leaders.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and several INDIA bloc leaders, including those from the TMC and AAP, took part in the protest on the steps leading to Makar Dwar in Parliament.

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Opposition leaders carried signs reading “Stop using agencies to silence the opposition” and “BJP mein jao bhrashtachar ka license pao (Join BJP and get a license for corruption)”.

AAP MP Raghav Chadha held a poster showing Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal standing behind bars.

Opposition MPs raised slogans demanding release of three ministers arrested in West Bengal and stopping ED’s ‘misuse’ against Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav and against former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren.

“The entire INDIAN bloc is united against misuse of central agencies against opposition leaders,” Congress leader Rajeev Shukla said.

The opposition protest comes days after a Delhi court remanded Mr Kejriwal in custody till July 12 in a corruption case related to an alleged excise scam. He was formally arrested by the CBI last week. Earlier, he was arrested by the ED in a money laundering case related to the policy. He was recently granted bail by a trial court, but his release was stayed by the Delhi High Court.

Hemant Soren was released on Friday after the state High Court granted him bail in a money laundering case, observing that he was not guilty and there was no probability that the petitioner commits an offense while on bail.