Sonia Gandhi arrives at ED office; Congress stages nationwide protests, trains blocked in state

NEW DELHI: Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi has arrived at the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office for interrogation in connection with the National Herald case. She was accompanied by her children Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi.

The Congress has staged heavy protests at the AICC headquarters against the questioning. Earlier, the party had planned to protest at Raj Ghat. However, the Delhi police did not grant permission. Following which, the protest was shifted to the AICC headquarters.

Meantime, Congress-Youth Congress workers are protesting by blocking trains in many places in the state. Trains were blocked in Kottayam, Kannur, Kasaragod, Thiruvalla and Thrissur. In Thrissur, Youth Congress activists staged protests by blocking Guruvayur Express. The protesters were evicted from the area by the police. In Kannur, the activists stood on the tracks and blocked the Inter City Express for five minutes. The police arrested the activists who blocked the Janshatabdi express en route to Thiruvananthapuram from Kottayam railway station.

Sonia Gandhi was questioned by the ED last week too. She was quizzed for only two hours owing to her ill health. Gandhi had informed that she will not be able to sit for a long time as she is still recovering from the after-effects of Covid-19. Following which, she was summoned on Tuesday. Reports suggest that the ED asked Sonia about the vague matters in the statement of former Congress president Rahul Gandhi in connection with the case. She was also questioned about her stake in Young India Ltd (YIL) and the financial transactions related to the takeover of the National Herald. After examining Sonia’s statement, the ED is likely to question Rahul Gandhi again.