V P Singh 'detained', goes on 'dharna' to protest jhuggi demolition

New Delhi, Mar 30 (UNI) Former Prime Minister V P Sigh was today 'detained' by the police this morning near Tilak Marg in New Delhi area while he was heading to join protestors who were agitating jhuggi demolitions by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.

Mr Singh was persuaded to go home, after more than half an hour of requests, as his presence could inflame the already surcharged atmosphere and create a law and order problem, according to area Additional DCP Manish Agarwal.

Area DCP Anand Mohan later clarified that neither Mr Singh was arrested nor detained. He was simply prevented from moving to the spot and persuaded to leave for home.

However, Mr Singh later, at about 1200 hrs, managed to reach the Mathura Road-Bhairon Marg crossing and sat on a 'dharna' there, leading to a traffic jam. The jam continued for more than a couple of hours.

East Delhi residents moving towards Pragati Maidan faced acute problems due to the jam, leading to traffic chaos and confusion all over the Ring Road leading to ITO.

Mr Singh was also joined by former PM I K Gujral and hundreds of his followers.

The 'dharna', to protest the demolition of slums on the Yamuna riverbed and displacement of jhuggi dwellers, continued till 1730 hrs after which Mr Singh left for his residence.

However, jhuggi demolitions continued unabated for the second consecutive day despite growing protests.

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