'Pakoda' protest in Mumbai: Sanjay Nirupam detained

Mumbai, Feb 8: Mumbai Congress president Sanjay Nirupam was detained on Thursday near the Girgaum Chowpatty by police while he was on his way to the Mantralaya in south Mumbai to participate in a 'pakoda' protest.

Nirupam was supposed to join the protest outside the state secretariat against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent remarks that selling pakodas at a roadside stall is also employment. Nirupam alleged that the BJP government was advising unemployed youths to sell the fried snack, as it was "incapable" of providing jobs.

The Congress leader also slammed BJP president Amit Shah over his remarks during his debut speech as an MP in Rajya Sabha. In a dig at the Congress, Shah had said that selling pakodas is not a matter of shame but comparing one who does so to a beggar is.

"Shah 's remarks are insulting to the educated and unemployed people," Nirupam said.

Referring to his detention, Nirupam said the government was trying to "stifle" the voice of the unemployed youth by restraining them from holding a peaceful protest.

A large number of police personnel were deployed outside the Mantralaya and all its gates were closed. In the evening, a 45-year-old man committed suicide by jumping from the fifth floor of the state secretariat.

PTI