Dalit, OBC leader detained ahead of PM Modi's visit

Ahmedabad, Mar 8: Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani along with OBC leader Alpesh Thakor, who had planned protests during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's event here, were detained from different locations on Wednesday.

Apart from Mevani and Thakor, around 50 Congress workers, who had planned a march to Mahatma Mandir to register their protest against Modi, were held from Gandhinagar this afternoon. Mevani was detained as soon as he landed at city airport from New Delhi, said Inspector H B Zala.

"Since he had threatened to disrupt PM's event, we detained Mevani upon his arrival at the airport from Delhi. He was released after the programme in Gandhinagar ended in the evening," said Zala. Mevani had earlier announced of taking out a march to Mahatma Mandir with agitating Anganwadi workers, who were demanding significant pay hike since some time.

President of OBC-SC-ST (OSS) Ekta Manch Alpesh Thakor was detained from outside district collector's office by police to thwart his attempt to disrupt the event. Since some time, Thakor has been agitating against state government on the issue of unemployment, lack of proper liquor prohibition and wage issues concerning Anganwadi workers.

"Thakor along with 800 of his supporters, including women, was detained from outside collector's office, as he was planning a march towards Gandhinagar to disrupt the event. All of them were released in the evening," said Inspector of Ranip area, V B Patel. In Gandhinagar, around 50 Congress workers, including women, of local district unit were detained before they could hold a protest march till Mahatma Mandir, said a Gandhinagar police control room official.

PTI