815 UPA activists arrested for gheraoing Jharkhand Assembly

Ranchi, Sep 11 (UNI) About 815 UPA activists were arrested today by the district administration during the Alliance's 'Jharkhand Assembly gherao' protesting Speaker Inder Singh Namdhari's issuance of defection notice to three legislators.

The UPA members gheraoed the Assembly and shouted slogans despite tight security.

The arrested leaders include state RJD president Gautam Sagar Rana, secretary Manohar Yadav, president of RJD's women cell Sharda Devi, Congress MP Rameshwar Oraon and Bagun Sumbrai, Congress state president Pratibha Pandey, CPM leader Prakash Viplav and Yogendra Pandey of Forward Bloc.

Superintendent of Police Akhilesh K Jha said the arrested were kept in Jaipal Singh stadium and later released.

The Speaker had asked Enos Ekka, Kamlesh Singh (both rebel ministers) and Stephen Marandi (Ind) to explain why their memberships should not be quashed on September 11, three days ahead of the September 14 floor test of the Arjun Munda government in the Assembly.

Mr Ekka, now out of the state, cited ill health and sought time from the Speaker.

Two companies of Rapid Action Force (RAF), about 200 district police personnel and 50 police officers were engaged to ensure security in the Assembly premises.

The UPA yesterday gheraoed Mr Namdhari's shortwhile.

Four ministers of the Arjun Munda cabinet had resigned on September five precipitating a crisis for the government.

On the Chief Minister's request, Governor Syed Sibtey Arazi has allowed a trial of strength by September 15.

But the Munda cabinet has taken a decision to seek vote-of-confidence on September 14.

Following this, some BJP MLAs moved a petition before the Speaker seeking disqualification of the rebels under the anti-defection law.

UNI AM PP PA DB2012