Cong protest against petrol price hike, leaders detained

Rajkot: Congress leaders of Rajkot city were detained before they could take out a cycle rally to register their protest against the increase in the prices of petrol and diesel on Wednesday.
“We wanted to take out a cycle rally from Trikonbaug to lodge a protest against the rising prices of petrol and diesel. However, before we could take out the rally, our party members were detained,” said Viral Bhatt of Rajkot Congress.
Those detained included Rajkot Congress president Ashok Dangar, Gujarat Mahila Congress president Gayatriba Vaghela, Rajkot Congress former president Mahesh Rajput, Dr Hemang Vasavada, Jashwantsinh Bhatti, Mansukh Kalariya, Mukesh Chawda, Dr Dinesh Chowatia and Suresh Bathwar.
“We were maintaining social distancing at the venue. And yet, we were detained. This shows that the police are acting at the behest of the ruling BJP government and that the BJP is attacking the fundamental rights of the citizens to lodge peaceful protest against the government which is guaranteed by the Constitution of India,” added Bhatt.
Meanwhile in Patan, as many as 11 Congress activists were rounded up for protesting against the sky rocketing prices of petrol and diesel on Wednesday.
“About 30 activists staged a peaceful Dharna at about 10 am. Hardly after an hour police detained 11 activists. Our programme was peaceful respecting the regulation of social distancing,” said Babuji Thakor, president of Patan district Congress.
Police, however, claimed that the people were detained for staging a dharna without seeking permission from the authority. Later, all those detained were released.