Digvijay, Rita among several Congress leaders arrested in UP

Lucknow, Nov 15 (UNI) Several senior Congress leaders, including AICC General Secretary Digvijay Singh and UP Congress president Rita Bahuguna Joshi were today arrested in Ferozabad district while protesting police's refusal to lodge an FIR against the Khadi Board chairman for allegedly insulting Mahatma Gandhi.

Khadi Gramudyog chairman Daya Ram Sen-- during a function earlier this month -- had asked the organisers to remove the portrait of the Mahatma from the dias and had even made ''derogatory remarks'' against him, the Congress had alleged.

On November 12, the Congress had announced its decision to gherao the Shikohabad Kotwali Police Station to protest the police inaction in the matter.

Talking to UNI over phone from Shikohabad, Ms Joshi said the protests would continue till the FIR was lodged against Mr Sen for his alleged remarks against the father of the nation.

Meanwhile, the Congress claimed here that the agitation would now be spread in all districts of the state till the government took action against the guilty.

Most of the party leaders, including Mr Singh had reached Ferozabad from New Delhi this morning by road.

UNI