Chhattisgarh BJP leaders held state-wide protests against the "anti-farmer stand" of the Congress government in the state on Friday and courted arrest while marching towards the Raipur Collectorate.
BJP state co-in-charge Nitin Nabin, former Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh, Raipur MP Sunil Soni and former Ministers Birjmohan Agrawal and Rajesh Munat were among those arrested near the Sapre School.
The BJP leaders had arrived on bullock carts and tractors. A few brought their plough to the protest venue near the Swami Vivekananda Sarovar.
Addressing the gathering, Nabin said the protest is to "wake up" the Congress government from its slumber. He accused the government of not fulfilling its election promises.
Dr Raman Singh sought a white paper from the government to clarify the cause of suicides of farmers.
Singh said that during BJP period farmers were given loan on zero per cent, 5 lakh irrigation pumps, `1 per kg rice and other facilities. Other BJP leaders also addressed the gathering.
The rally was stopped by the police near Sapre School where BJP leaders staged a sit-in protest leading to their arrests.