HP Cong chief, others booked for violating prohibitory orders

: Police on Friday registered a case against Himachal Pradesh Congress president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, All India Congress Committee in-charge for party affairs in state Rajni Patil and other party leaders for violating prohibitory orders.

The Congress leaders and workers holding anti-Modi placards on Friday held a protest march from the party headquarters, Rajiv Bhawan, to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)’s regional office on The Mall in state capital protesting against the ouster of the central agency’s director. Section 144 (unlawful assembly) of the Code of Criminal Procedure was slapped on Sukhu and others.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi is trying to end the autonomy of agencies like the CBI. In response to that, we violated Section 144 on The Mall,” said Sukhu.

Sukhu along with party leaders and workers sat on a dharna and gheraoed the CBI office at AG Chowk. Leader of opposition in the assembly, Mukesh Agnihotri also participated in the protest.

He said the probe into the Rafale deal scam was handed over to the CBI by the Supreme Court and when the agency started scrutinising the case files, Modi removed agency director Alok Verma.

“The central government is weakening constitutional institutions. The Lokpal has not been appointed till date. Supreme Court judges are feeling suffocated. The chief election commissioner has been made a puppet,” he alleged. The case was registered at the Sadar police station.