Terming the arrest and deplaning of his colleague Pawan Khera from a Raipur flight condemnable, Congress chief Ok C Venugopal on Thursday accused the BJP of making an attempt to “derail” the social gathering’s plenary session and requested if India has turn into a banana republic. 

Khera was detained by the Delhi Police and subsequently arrested by the Assam Police in connection along with his alleged remarks in opposition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a senior police officer stated.

The motion in opposition to the Congress’ media division head started with him being deplaned from a New Delhi-Raipur flight, resulting in extraordinary scenes of protest on the tarmac by Congress leaders.

Also Read | Cong leader Pawan Khera arrested by Assam Police for remarks against PM Modi

“It is totally condemnable the way they are doing these things. We are all going to Raipur for the plenary session, Pawan Khera was also travelling with us, suddenly they deplaned Pawan Khera without any valid reason,” Venugopal advised PTI on the tarmac.

“After half an hour, Delhi Police comes and says they have to hand him (Khera) over to Assam Police. We asked if there is an FIR, arrest warrant or any document, but nothing is there, only oral orders,” the Congress’ normal secretary in-charge organisation stated.

How can this occur, has India turn into a “banana republic”, he requested. 

Also Read | I salute the judiciary, says Congress’s Pawan Khera after being released on interim bail

Venugopal stated the entire episode was “very unfortunate” and alleged that it was aimed on the social gathering’s plenary session within the Chhattisgarh capital.

“Three-four days back, they carried out raids in Chhattisgarh now this,” he stated. 

Later after reaching Raipur for the three-day plenary, beginning Friday, Venugopal issued an announcement and stated Khera was arrested on completely “baseless charges, which were only trumped up because Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scared of being questioned on his relationship with Gautam Adani”. 

He thanked the Supreme Court for being the voice of purpose in these testing occasions.

The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered grant of interim bail to Khera until February 28 within the case.

“This charade is not going to deter us from raising questions about the manner in which the Modi government has systematically favoured the Adani group and is conspicuously silent on allegations of stock rigging, over valuation and benami money being pushed through a web of shell companies against the Adani Group of companies,” he alleged.

“Khera’s arrest was arbitrary and dictatorial and yet another cowardly attempt to  derail the 85th AICC Plenary being held in Raipur,” Venugopal alleged.

The Enforcement Directorate raided Congress leaders in Chhattisgarh, clearly timed to “intimidate” the social gathering’s Chhattisgarh unit through the essential starting stage of the plenary, he stated. 

“However, the BJP is totally misguided if it believes that such laughable intimidation tactics are going to dissuade us from exposing its corruption and misgovernance,” he stated.

Venugopal stated Khera is without doubt one of the most articulate voices of the social gathering, who has constantly opposed and questioned the flawed insurance policies and divisive agenda of the Modi authorities. 

“We stand with Khera and strongly denounce the high handedness of the government,” he stated.

The ‘Haath Se Haath Jodo’ plenary will give a brand new imaginative and prescient to the nation and begin  the countdown for the tip of BJP’s misrule on the Centre, Venugopal stated.

“We are all geared up for this historic occasion, and no force can stop us from our mission,” the Congress normal secretary stated.