Police action against Pawan Khera is new example of PM’s politics of vendetta: Jairam Ramesh

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh on Thursday termed the police crackdown on party spokesperson Pawan Kher as a fresh example of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policy of "revenge, harassment and intimidation".

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was worried about the success of the Bharat Jodo Yatra in the Congress and is now apprehensive about the 85th Grand Old Party Plenary which will begin on Friday, he told reporters. The BJP also tried to detail the plenary, he alleged, referring to the recent raids by the Enforcement Directorate on Congress leaders in Raipur and the detention of Khera on Thursday.

Freedom of speech is under threat, but more importantly, freedom of expression is under threat, Ramesh quipped. Talking about opposition unity, Ramesh said it will be strengthened when the Congress is strong.

Khera was arrested by the Assam Police at the Delhi airport on Thursday after he was kicked off a Delhi-Raipur flight in connection with his alleged derogatory remarks against the prime minister. Khera recently called him "Narendra Gautamdas Modi", an apparent jab at the prime minister over a row involving business tycoon Gautam Adani.

The Prime Minister's full name is Narendra Damodardas Modi, with the middle name meaning his father's name. The BJP accused the Congress spokesperson of insulting the Prime Minister.