PI stops BJP councillor’s event in city, shunted out

Vadodara: A major controversy erupted after the Manjalpur police forced prominent BJP corporator Kalpesh Patel alias Jay Ranchhod to wind up a religious programme organized on Monday night.
Manjalpur police inspector VK Desai was transferred to the special branch even as the city police is still probing the incident.
Patel had organized the event under the banner of an NGO he is connected with. Prominent spiritual leaders from various sects were present on the stage at the event. Senior Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VP) functionaries were also given place on the dais.
Soon after Patel began his welcome address, Desai reached the venue and took his mike to announce that the event did not have permission. Desai also requested all present there to leave the venue. Patel hurriedly made arrangements at a party plot to continue the event.
Patel said earlier too events had been held at the same venue that blocks a portion of the road but people never objected. “We had applied for permission on Friday and were told orally that it would be granted till Monday. On Monday evening, Desai told me over phone that the permission was not being given. The stage had been erected and all preparations had been made at the venue,” said Patel. He added that he then spoke to an assistant commissioner of police who said that we could go ahead with the event.
Commenting on Desai’s transfer on Tuesday, Patel said, “I plan to meet our senior leaders and raise the issue with them. I suspect a conspiracy to sabotage the event. I did not seek any action. It may have been done on the basis of reports,” he said.
City police commissioner Shamsher Singh said that the officer could have acted in time to ensure that the stage was not erected and done something before the event started.