MJP leader Zadaphia held during demonstrations

Ahmedabad, Nov 3 (UNI) Gujarat BJP's former dissident and president of Maha Gujarat Janta Party (MJP) Gordhan Zadaphia was today detained for organising demonstrations against the arrest of joint secretary of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) Ashwin Patel.

Patel is in police remand for his alleged involvement in ''defamatory'' sms campaign against Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

Sedition charges have also been slapped on him by police.

Mr Zadaphia and his party workers held demonstrations at Income Tax here though police had not given any permission for it to Mr Zadphia.

Protesting the arrest of the VHP leader, Mr Zadaphia said, ''this government is anti-Hindu and the arrest of Ashwin Patel has exposed its real face. MJP will support the VHP on the issue,'' MJP plans to hold similar demonstrations in different parts of the state.

Gandhinagar police had arrested Ashwin Patel on October 28 on the charges of circulating smses against Mr Modi and trying to create social tension among different communities.

UNI HT-MP OBB SB HT2230