Protest against Rahul’s detention unites various factions of Congress

“TNCC president Su Thirunavukkarasar, Elangovan and other leaders slammed the detention of Rahul Gandhi by Delhi police three times in two days. Rahul’s detention “shows their (Centre) anti-democratic attitude and arrogance,” Thirunavukkarasar said and added “We condemn this illegal act.”  Elangovan, who had resigned as TNCC chief in June owning responsibility for the party’s dismal performance in the May 2016 Assembly polls, also joined his successor in criticising the Centre on Friday. He questioned, “whether there is no right for the leader of the main opposition party” to visit the family of an ex-serviceman. Rahul Gandhi was detained twice on Wednesday after he tried to meet the family members of the ex-serviceman Ram Kishan Grewal, who allegedly committed suicide over the OROP issue. 

Rahul was detained for the third time on Thursday, when the Delhi Police picked him up from Jantar Mantar to prevent him from leading a protest march over the suicide. In the Friday’s protest besides Elangovan, former Finance Minister P Chidambaram’s son Karthi, ex-TNCC presidents KV Thangkabalu and Krishnasamy, AICC general secretary Nagma and All India spokesperson Khushbu Sundar were present.   Similar agitations were held in other parts of the State also. Interestingly, Elangovan had virtually boycotted a protest led by Thirunavukkarasar last month on the Cauvery issue at Tiruchy.  He even went to Apollo Hospitals to inquire about the health of ailing Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.