Rahul Gandhi, Manish Sisodia Detained Amid Politics Over Army Veteran's Death

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi is at a police station after being detained when he tried to enter the capital's Ram Manohar Lohia hospital to meet the family of a retired Army man who allegedly committed suicide yesterday. The Congress says his detention is "illegal."

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been stopped outside the Lady Hardinge hospital where a post-mortem is being conducted. "If someone commits suicide in my state can't I come and meet the family? The Central government is indulging in hooliganism," the chief minister said.
Also detained today at the Ram Manohar Lohia hospital shortly before Rahul Gandhi, was Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who was later bundled by the police into a bus and taken away.
Subedar Ram Kishen Grewal, 65, allegedly poisoned himself on the lawns of a government building in Delhi on Tuesday afternoon. In a suicide note he said he had still not received the increased pension promised to him by the government under its one-rank-one-pension scheme.
The police have accused the politicians of obstructing hospital work. "Delhi Police will not allow any obstruction at a hospital. They were making speeches. Leaders should understand they can't do politics here," a police officer said.
"This is the new India. Recognise it," said Mr Gandhi outside the hospital. The Congress has called his detention undemocratic. "You don't need permission to go the hospital, to meet families of soldiers," said the party's Anand Sharma.
The police have also detained Jaswant Grewal, the son of Subedar Grewal, after he joined AAP workers in impromptu protests outside the hospital. Mr Gandhi has called Jaswant's detention a "shame."
"Manish Sisodia detained? He had gone to meet family of deceased Ram Kishan ji. He is elected Dy CM. Whats wrong wid u Modiji? So insecure?" tweeted Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is expected to arrive at the hospital soon.
Mr Kejriwal also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a video, accusing him of "lying" about the implementation of one-rank one-pension or OROP scheme.
Subedar Grewal's family wants the government to fulfill the demands that he made in a petition that he planned to hand over to Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar later on Tuesday. Sources in Mr Parrikar's office said they had received no request from the Army veteran for an appointment with the minister.

The government implemented One Rank One Pension, a longstanding demand of ex-servicemen, last year. It grants retired armed forces personnel pension parity with officers and jawans of the same rank who are retiring now.