M A I N   N E W S

Congress men lathicharged

GANDHINAGAR, Feb 21 (UNI, PTI) — Thirtynine Congress workers were arrested and 150 detained as 19 tear gas shells were burst to quell them here today during their demonstration against the Gujarat Government’s recent decision of lifting the ban on employees from participating in the activities of the RSS.

The tear gas shells were burst at Pathikashram. The Congress claimed that nearly 8,000 workers participated in the demonstration while the police put the figure at not more than 450.

According to the Gandhinagar District Superintendent of Police, Mr B. Radhakrishnan, the Congress had taken permission for their protest at Pathikashram, where nearly 250 workers, including Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee President C.D. Patel, Leader of the Opposition Amarsinh Chaudhary, former Chief Minister Dilip Parikh and former Union Minister Urmilaben Patel were present.

The activists were prevented from entering the Vidhan Bhavan premises. They went upto Mahatama Gandhi’s statue in the premises and returned to resume their demonstration.

According to Mr Radhakrishnan, they then attacked the police, injuring two policemen. Two vehicles were damaged and window glasspanes were broken. The police had to resort to cane charge in which several persons were injured.

Mr Amarsinh Chaudhary and Mr C.D. Patel said this protest programme would continue till the state government withdrew its controversial decision.

Among the Congress leaders detained were Urmilaben Patel and Madhusudan Mistry. Former Chief Ministers Shankarsinh Vaghela and Madhavsinh Solanki were absent but were stated to be busy in “other programmes’’.

The Gujarat Governor, Mr Sundar Singh Bhandari’s Address on the opening day of the Budget session of the state assembly today was disrupted when Congress members shouted slogans, demanding continuation of the ban on government employees taking part in RSS activities.

The Governor completed his Address within 10 minutes and only read the beginning and the concluding part of his speech, which, however, could not be heard in the din prevailing in the House.

The Congress MLAs also displayed banners inside the assembly and shouted slogans against the RSS and the BJP and demanded immediate withdrawal of the circular.

Accompanied by the Speaker, Mr Dhirubhai Shah, the Governor left the House immediately after completing his Address.

Earlier, Congress legislators hurled khaki half-pants and black caps, which constitute a part of the dress code of the RSS at the Governor as he rose to deliver his Address.

When Mr Bhandari was leaving the house, someone threw a pair of half-pants and a black cap twice at him which, however, did not hit him.