Dozens of Youth Congress (YC) activists were injured as police used lathis, tear gas shells and water cannons to disperse them while they were trying to round-off the Chief Minister’s house here on Thursday demanding Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s resignation over Vyapam scam. Few policemen were also injured in stone-pelting by the YC activists.
The YC workers took to the streets to protest against Chief Minister Chouhan, who is currently entangled in the infamous Vyapam scam.
YC workers were prevented from gheraoing Chief Minister’s residence over the controversial Professional Examination Board (MPPEB) or Vyapam scam. In view of the agitation, police had made tight security arrangements and put up barricades near the Chief Ministers residence. Police used mild force to drive away the agitators, when they tried to force their way towards the Chief Minister's residence.
YC President Amarendra Singh Raja Barar, leader of the Opposition in state assembly Satyadev Katare and several Congress legislators took part in the protest.
Barar said the future of several students had been ruined due to the scam. The YC would launch a nationwide agitation over the matter.
Brar while addressing YC workers said that the Non Residential Indians (NRI) have assured him to raise funds for this initiative. He said, “While I was coming to Bhopal many NRI’s called me up and asked me why I am going to Bhopal. So I answered them saying that I am going to do a campaign against Madhya Pradesh VYAPAM scam.”
Elaborating further, he said that he told them about VYAPAM scam. He said in this scam 49 people have died, and the future of more than 20 lakh students has been ruined. He then said that the culprits are in power and to overthrow them this initiative called Halla Bol has been taken up. “I told them that I am going to Bhopal to demonstrate against this scam under Halla Bol campiagn,” he added.
“After listening to the reason for which I have come to Bhopal today, those NRI’s told me that they are ready to raise funds for this campaign. They told me that I should move forward with this initiative without any fear and they will raise funds to help me.”
He said that he got calls from more than 100 NRI’s and all of them assured him to fund this campaign.
Katare said Congress would not relent unless Chouhan resigned as no impartial investigation was possible as long as he was in the chair.