Congress, BJP trade barbs over Herald case

NEW DELHI: The next stage of Congress's protests against the "misuse of agencies" will dominate the agenda of AICC office-bearers meeting Saturday.

Sources said the protests may coincide with the future govt action against members of Gandhi family. In the wake of ED's chargesheet in National Herald case , the party held demonstrations outside ED offices at all state headquarters and central govt offices in districts.

Party general secretary KC Venugopal Thursday sent out a circular calling a meeting of AICC office-bearers managing states and heads of frontal organisations Saturday. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge will chair the discussion.

The feeling in Congress is that the party needs to turn the protests into an action that will not just highlight the "vendetta through misuse of agencies" by BJP, but become an exercise to mobilise the cadre. It coincides with the party's focus to empower district units, and the protests can be the vehicle to assess the enthusiasm of the new heads of the lower rungs of the organisation.

Meanwhile, Congress announced Rahul Gandhi will be on a tour to US for a university interaction and public meetings. Party spokesman Pawan Khera said, "Rahul Gandhi will be visiting Brown University, in Rhode Island, on April 21-22."