Our Correspondent /
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi is at a police station after being detained when he tried to enter the capital’s Ram Manohar Lohia hospital to meet the family of a retired Army man who allegedly committed suicide yesterday. The Congress says his detention is “illegal.”
“How can you arrest the son and father of martyr? And if you have not arrested them then why are you not letting them go,” Rahu said at Mandir Marg Police Station with family of soldier who committed suicide
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has also been stopped outside the Lady Hardinge hospital where a post-mortem is being conducted. “If someone commits suicide in my state can’t I come and meet the family? The Central government is indulging in hooliganism,” the chief minister said.
Earlier Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi and Delhi’s Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia were stopped on their way to meet the family of former serviceman Ram Kishan Grewal, who allegedlly committed suicide over the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme.
Sisodia was taken into custody by the Delhi Police when he had gone to the same hospital to meet Grewal’s family. The AAP leader was detained after he tried to sit on a dharna inside the hospital over the suicide.
When asked about the detention, Special Commissioner of Delhi Police Mukesh Meena said, the AAP leaders were creating disturbance at the hospital.
He said, democracy does not mean creating obstruction and Leaders must also understand that hospital is not the place to hold any demonstrations.
“Manish Sisodia detained? He had gone to meet family of deceased Ram Kishan ji. He is elected Dy CM. Whats wrong wid u Modiji? So insecure?” tweeted Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is expected to arrive at the hospital soon.
Mr Kejriwal also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a video, accusing him of “lying” about the implementation of one-rank one-pension or OROP scheme.
Subedar Grewal’s family wants the government to fulfill the demands that he made in a petition that he planned to hand over to Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar later on Tuesday. Sources in Mr Parrikar’s office said they had received no request from the Army veteran for an appointment with the minister.
In a suicide note the veteran said he had still not received the increased pension promised to him by the government under its one-rank-one-pension scheme.
Subedar Grewal’s son Jaswant was detained after he joined impromptu protests against his father’s death outside the hospital. The family has alleged that they were manhandled by policemen at the hospital before being brought to the same police station.
“This is the new India. Recognise it,” Mr Gandhi said at the hospital earlier as he waited to the meet the veteran’s family. He was detained after he refused to leave at the police’s request.
The Congress has called Mr Gandhi’s detention “illegal” and accused the BJP-led central government of using the Delhi Police in an “anti-democratic” move.
“You don’t need permission to go the hospital, to meet families of soldiers,” said the party’s Anand Sharma.