Published 22:07 IST, August 21st 2019
Chidambaram arrested: How Congress reacted during the high drama
The members of the Congress condemned the actions of the CBI and ED and accused the Central government of violently suppressing the senior Congress leader.
After 27 hours of being untraceable, Congress leader P Chidambaram arrived at the AICC head office for a press conference, and within minutes returned to his Jor Bagh residence. The CBI then followed him and arrested him on Wednesday. In unprecedented visuals, the CBI team climbed the walls of Chidambaram's residence to enter his place. The CBI officials after almost 30-minutes long drama arrested former finance minister P Chidambaram for custodial interrogation in the money laundering and corruption cases.
Congress defends P Chidambaram
The members of the Congress condemned the actions of the CBI and ED and accused the Central government of violently suppressing the senior Congress leader. Karnataka Congress leader Dinesh Gundu Rao hit out at the BJP and accused the party of suppressing the voices of many. The Congress leader was of the opinion that democracy was being crushed in the country. Read his tweet here:
Congress spokesperson Sanjay Jha attempted to explain Chidambaram's arrest via a metaphor. He said that the people of India had voted for such a government and asked the people to enjoy. Read his tweet here:
Congress leader Anand Sharma called Chidambaram a 'law-abiding citizen' and said that the press should be reminded of the fundamental right to liberty. Read the tweet here:
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said that the manner in which the Central agencies target P Chidambaram was unjustified and said that actions as such on a 'respectable' and 'responsible' leader were not right. Read his tweet here;
Gandhi family backs P Chidambaram
Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi accused the Central government along with agencies such as the CBI and ED in addition to certain sections of the media to have defamed and assassinated the character of Chidambaram. Read his tweet here:
East Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that Chidambaram had been hunted down 'shamefully' and affirmed that the Congress party will stand by Chidambaram no matter how grave the consequences were. Read her tweet here:
Chidambaram case: Developments of Wednesday
Earlier on Wednesday, the Supreme Court registrar said that the hearing in the INX Media case will take place on Friday. P Chidambaram's counsel on Wednesday appealed to the apex court for interim relief from the arrest of the Congress leader after Delhi High Court rejected his anticipatory bail plea in the INX Media case. Even after Chidambaram's counsel urged the Chief Justice of India for the urgent hearing of the case, the CJI referred the case to the registrar who then said that the hearing will be on Friday.
Updated 22:45 IST, August 21st 2019