Jaipur: Congress leaders, led by PCC Chief Sachin Pilot, today courted arrest during a protest against the detention of party vice president Rahul Gandhi in Delhi when he was trying to meet the family members of army veteran Ram Kishan Grewal who allegedly committed suicide over One Rank One Pension issue.
Congress leaders and workers held a demonstration at the Collectorate circle here during which Pilot accused the BJP-led NDA government of "misusing the machinery" and termed as "murder of the democracy" the detention of Gandhi.
A senior police official said 21 Congress leaders courted arrest.
"21 Congress leaders, including Pilot, courted arrest," DCP (West) Ashok Gupta said.
Apart from Pilot, former Chief minister Ashok Gehlot, former PCC chief Chandrabhan, former Union minister Namonarain Meena were also present during the protest.
"The BJP government had murdered the democracy by detaining Rahul Gandhi yesterday.
The government misused the police and administration," Pilot said, addressing the workers during the demonstration.
Terming as "unfortunate" the army veteran ending his life, he said "it shows the apathy of the government, which is ignoring the demands of the defence personnel."
He also accused the central government of taking "political advantage of the surgical strikes".
The PCC chief said visiting the grieving family was not a crime but the government acted against the spirit of the Constitution by detaining Gandhi, and demanded an apology.
Former Chief minister Ashok Gehlot said the incident has exposed the "fascist" character of the BJP government at the Centre and alleged it has misused police and administration against the Opposition leaders.
