Hundreds of Congress leaders — including State party president Nana Patole, leaders Prithivirakj Chavan Ashok Chavan, Balasaheb Thorat Varsha Gaikwad and Chandrakant Handore — were detained by police on Friday, ahead of their scheduled demonstration in front of Raj Bhavan in south Mumbai in protest against price hike, GST on essential commodities, unemployment and also manner in which their leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi were treated in Delhi.
While Patole, Ashok Chavan, Thorat, Handore, Varsha Gaikwad were picked up from Vidhan Bhavan area, Prithviraj Chavan, Manikrao Thakre, Nitin Raut, Aslam Sheikh, Mumbai Congress President Bhai Jagtap and others were detained at Malbar Hills in neighbourhood of Raj Bhavan. In a statement issued later in the evening, the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) claimed that more than 10,000 party activists were detained from various parts of the metropolis and surrounding areas.
During the protests at various places, the Congress workers raised slogans against the BJP government at the Centre and in the state over the issues of inflation, unemployment, GST, Agneepath scheme and the problems faced by farmers.
State Congress chief Nana Patole warned that his party would continue to agitate against the Narendra Modi-led BJP government at the Centre to raise the issues of the common man “Even if the `ED’ government tries to crush the protest by using force, we will not be deterred. The Congress is not scared of the pressure tactics and will continue to protest,” Patole said.
Friday’s protests in the metropolis were part of the offensive launched by the Congress in various parts of the country against the Narendra Modi government over the issues of the price rise, GST on essential commodities and unemployment.
Talking to media persons, Legislature Party leader Balasaheb Thorat said that holding agitations were possible even during the British rule. “We are in a democracy but the state government is preventing people from agitating on the issue”. “The central government has imposed GST on children's milk, GST on salt and flour. When people are suffering from inflation, you cannot question the government? What kind of government is this.. Is there a ban on agitation in the state of ED government?,” Thorat asked.