Congmen clash during Chhattisgarh rally

Raipur, Oct 16 (UNI) Congress infighting spilled onto the streets today when two groups of party workers clashed during a rally organised to welcome Congress General Secretary V Narayansami on his maiden visit here as the party's Chhattisgarh incharge.

The rally turned out to be a show of strength between supporters of former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi and ex-Union Minister Vidyacharan Shukla who returned to Congress fold after four years. Both groups had made elaborate arrangements.

Trouble began after the supporters clashed, creating commotion during the rally. Police immediately intervened and brought the situation under control.

''We have received a complaint from a Congress worker who claimed that he was abused and beaten up by two others during the rally,'' police said adding that a First Information Report was lodged and further investigation in progress. ''In fact, we anticipated trouble. Hence we could take timely action,'' said Senior Superintendent of Police B S Maravi.

Later, the rally converged into a meeting where the Congress leaders called upon workers to unitedly fight against ''misrule'' of the Bharatiya Janata Party regime so as to overthrow the BJP in the next assembly elections.

UNI