New Delhi: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi was detained - for the third time in two days - when he attempted to lead a protest march at Jantar Mantar on Thursday evening over the suicide of an army veteran.
The march was held to pay tributes to Subedar Ram Kishan Grewal, who committed suicide protesting delay in the implementation of one rank, one pension.
After a few hours of chaos and denials, Delhi police later in the night said that Rahul was detained at Tolstoy Marg after he insisted on proceeding to India Gate for candlelight vigil in memory of Grewal.
Around 7 PM, Rahul was whisked away by police, first to 5 Firoz Shah Road and later to Tughlak Road Police Station where he was kept for over one hour.
The police action triggered sharp reactions from the Congress leadership which accused the Narendra Modi government of making a "mockery of democracy" and likened the situation to an "undeclared Emergency".
Speaking to reporters after his release, Rahul claimed police refused to lodge his complaint over his detention.
Police sources claimed that Rahul wanted to lodge a complaint of "kidnapping" but later "changed his mind.
Police also claimed that Rahul refused to get off the police vehicle at Firoz Shah Road, forcing them to take him to Tughlak Road Police Station.
"Rahul Gandhi was detained at Tolstoy Marg when he continued his candle march towards India Gate in spite of repeated requests not to proceed. He, along with other leaders, was brought to police station, Tuglak Road, and was released," police said in a statement.
The police action enraged Congress leadership, prompting former Union minister Salman Khurshid, former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala and DPCC chief Ajay Maken to hit out at the Centre, under which the Delhi police function.
Earlier, confusion prevailed on whether Rahul was detained or not as police kept on claiming that the Congress leader was not detained but merely taken away from the protest site keeping his security in mind.
"Police vehicle was stopped at 5, Feroze Shah Road, enroute to Tughlak Road PS," he tweeted.
At Firoz Shah Road, Rahul told CNN-News18, "The family was treated was wrong and it may affect the morale of the army. The police should at least apologise to the family. Prime Minister should apologise to the family, accept what he did was wrong and deliver OROP.
"The Prime Minister should act on 7th pay commission. He lied that OROP has been implemented. That's why the gentleman killed himself. His family was disrespected and humiliated," he said.
A police official said the action was taken keeping Rahul's security in mind as the crowd at Jantar Mantar was swelling by the minute.
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