Guwahati: Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera on Thursday was arrested by the Assam Police at Delhi airport after an FIR was lodged against him for his remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
A case has been registered against Khera at Haflong police station in Assam’s Dima Hasao district.
According to sources, Khera was earlier deboarded from an IndiGo flight to Raipur, where he was heading for the AICC plenary session, scheduled to begin Friday.
As per sources, Khera was stopped from boarding a plane at Delhi airport after a request was received from the Assam Police to stop him.
After Khera was stopped, the Congress leaders protested at the airport, sources added.
Taking to Twitter, All India Congress Committee general secretary KC Venugopal wrote, “Modi government is acting like a bunch of goons by deplaning Pawan Khera from the Delhi-Raipur flight and preventing him from joining the AICC Plenary.”
“Using a flimsy FIR to restrict his movement and silence him is a shameful, unacceptable act. The entire party stands with Pawan ji,” Venugopal added.
Meanwhile, in a video shared on Congress’s Twitter handle, Pawan Khera said that he does not know why was he deboarded. Khera said that he was first told that there was trouble with his baggage.
“I was told that there is an issue with my baggage, though I only had hand baggage. They told me you can’t fly. Then they said the DCP (Deputy Commissioner of Police) will meet you. I have been waiting for a long time. There is no sign of law and order,” he added.
However, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has deployed the force to handle the situation, sources added.
Sources further added that airport police including DCP is also on the scene to legally take control for the arrest of Pawan Khera as desired by Assam Police and Assam police is also at the airport.
On the other hand, IndiGo Airline issued a statement and said, “A passenger was deplaned by the police at the Delhi airport from Raipur-bound flight 6E 204. Some other passengers have also decided to deboard on their own accord. We are following the advice of the concerned authorities. The flight is delayed as of now and we regret the inconvenience caused to other passengers.”
The spurces said that he will be presented in a Delhi court and will be taken to Assam on transit remand.
Further details into the matter are awaited.
