Congress Protests Outside BJP Office After Court Rejects ED Chargesheet in National Herald Case

Ranchi: Congress workers on Wednesday staged a protest outside the BJP headquarters in Ranchi after a court rejected the Enforcement Directorate’s chargesheet filed against Sonia Gandhi and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case. The protest was led by Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee president Keshav Mahato Kamlesh.

Earlier in the day, Congress leaders and workers assembled at Harmu Ground and marched towards the BJP office, raising slogans against the BJP-led Union government and accusing it of misusing central investigative agencies. The march culminated in a gherao and demonstration in front of the BJP headquarters.

Addressing the protesters, Kamlesh alleged that the central government had crossed all limits by misusing investigative agencies without even registering an FIR. He claimed that the Modi government attempted to frame false cases against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi through the ED with the sole intention of maligning their image and weakening the Congress. He said the court’s order rejecting the chargesheet upheld the dignity of the Constitution and the independence of the judiciary.

Kamlesh further alleged that the Union government was continuously targeting opposition leaders through the ED and CBI and intimidating elected representatives of non-BJP-ruled states. According to him, the court’s verdict exposed the BJP and the central government before the people of the country.

Calling it one of the rarest cases, he said that neither any financial transaction nor transfer of property had taken place, yet a money laundering case was registered. He alleged that Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were subjected to hours of questioning under the pretext of investigation, amounting to mental harassment. He also claimed that this was perhaps the only case under the PMLA registered on the basis of a private criminal complaint, whereas such cases are generally initiated by constitutional agencies or the police.

Following the court order, Kamlesh demanded the immediate resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, stating that they no longer had the moral right to continue in office.

Several senior Congress leaders, including state co-incharge Siribela Prasad, Congress Legislature Party leader Pradeep Yadav, former state president Rajesh Thakur, along with party functionaries, MLAs and workers, were present during the protest.