Police use water cannons to disperse anti-Modi demonstrators

Gandhinagar, Sep 18 (UNI) Police today used water cannons to disperse around 400 Congress demonstrators protesting outside the Gujarat Assembly against the Narendra Modi government's inept handling of the flood situation in Surat and Central Gujarat.

The Congressmen were led by state unit president Bharatsinh Solanki and Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Arjun Modhwadia. Police used water cannons to disperse them, when they started moving towards the Assembly.

However, no arrests were made.

Addressing the protesters, both the leaders assailed the Chief Minister for refusing to extend the monsoon session of the Assembly beyond two days. ''The culpability of the state government is evident in its failure in tackling the floods and relief measures and, therefore, not allowing a discussion on the subject,'' Mr Modhwadia said.

He said Mr Modi had not only refused to extend the Monsoon Session beyond two days but influenced the Speaker not to allow a motion under Rule 101 of the Rules of the Assembly proposed by the Congress Whip Balwantsinh Rajput regarding a discussion on the recent floods in the State.

He criticised the Chief Minister for not willing to listen to criticism. Discussions on Gujarat floods were held for four hours in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and even during Zero Hours.

''Ironically, a discussion is not being allowed in the state badly affected by floods in its own Assembly under Rule 101,'' Mr Modhwadia lamented.

Mr Solanki attacked the government for not providing succour to the floody affected people in time, and its laxity in handling the outbreak of epidemics and chikungunya. He also blamed it for the worsening law and order situation in the state.

UNI RG-MMG PK HT1532