New Delhi, June 20 (FN Representative) Congress leaders met President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday and submitted two memorandums, one of which seeks the withdrawal of the Agnipath recruitment scheme and the other was to protest against the Police action against Congress leaders. Party’s media department chief Jairam Ramesh said in a tweet that the party leaders submitted the two letters to the President. The leaders urged the President that the Agnipath scheme should be withdrawn, and wide consultations should be held addressing issues of quality, efficiency and economy, without compromising on welfare of the Armed Forces. In the second letter, Congress leaders registered their “strongest possible protest against the vicious and unprovoked attack unleashed on Congress MPs by Delhi Police”.
Ramesh also pointed out that the Delhi Police comes under the direct purview of Union Home Ministry, and demanded a time-bound enquiry by the Privileges Committee on the breach of privilege. Congress leaders also staged a protest at Jantar Mantar for the second consecutive day against the new recruitment scheme for forces and the Delhi Police’ treatment of it’s party leaders while detaining them last week as they protested against Rahul Gandhi’s ED questioning. Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, senior leaders P Chidambaram, Jairam Ramesh and KC Venugopal were part of the delegation. Several party MPs earlier held a meeting at Parliament House and took out a solidarity march from the Parliament heading towards the Rashtrapati Bhawan. They were stopped by the Delhi Police at Vijay Chowk. Talking to media later, Kharge said, “Our leaders were harassed and detained in police stations at far away places for 10 to 12 hours without any offence or case against them. Police have to inform the Lok Sabha speaker and Rajya Sabha chairman if MPs are detained for long hours.” He also said the “faulty” Agnipath scheme should be withdrawn. Congress leaders have already submitted memoranda to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu.