Uma, BJS bigwigs briefly arrested

Bhopal, Nov 9 (UNI) Bharatiya Jan Shakti founder-president and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Uma Bharti and other BJS leaders were very briefly arrested here today for violating prohibitory orders while the Assembly was in session.

''Ms Bharti, former Union minister Prahlad Patel, Ms Bharti's nephews Rahul Lodhi, Siddharth Lodhi and about 2,000 BJS workers were apprehended under Section 151 of the Indian Penal Code,'' said Inspector-General Sanjeev Kumar.

After their release, the firebrand leader led a delegation to Director-General of Police Anand Rao Pawar and complained that fabricated charges of attempts to murder were being registered against her supporters and herself. The top officer assured the delegation that his force would function impartially.

The delegation included former Union minister Prahlad Patel, BJS state President Raghunandan Sharma, General Secretary Bhagwandas Sabnani and several office-bearers.

Earlier, Ms Bharti told mediapersons that she was courting arrest in protest against the recent bypoll violence in Malehra Vidhan Sabha constituency and the fabricated charge of attempt to murder levelled against her. Before that she addressed a meeting in the Yaadgar-i-Shahjahani Park.

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