SURAT: A total of 72 leaders and workers of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) were detained by the police at two police stations here on Monday for their attempt to take out a rally in Limbayat assembly segment. AAP alleged that they had been denied permission to take out Punjab win rally on March 10 and were again not allowed to organise the Tiranga Yatra rally on Monday in Limbayat.
“We were not allowed to organise the rally twice in a week following instructions from state BJP chief CR Paatil. The police are working on the directives of BJP leaders and so they detained us,” said Mahendra Navadiyapresident, AAP, Surat.
Police officials claimed that there was no valid reason for AAP to organise the rally on Monday. “AAP leaders had organised a rally in Varachha on March 10 to celebrate their Punjab win. They did not cite the reason why they wanted to take out the rally on Monday,” said a senior police officer.
“It was a 18-km long rally and the route was designed in a manner that would have created multiple issues. Police detained the workers and released them in the evening,” the officer added. Of the 72 detained, 18 were women. The workers were detained at Godadara and Dindoli police stations. At the starting point of the rally, police asked AAP workers why they had gathered at the spot when they did not have permission and soon detained them. “We will continue our efforts for a rally in Limbayat till police give us permission,” said Navadiya.
Limbayat is considered an important assembly constituency by AAP and majority of the voters are migrant workers. Currently, Sangita Patil of BJP is MLA from the constituency.
“We were not allowed to organise the rally twice in a week following instructions from state BJP chief CR Paatil. The police are working on the directives of BJP leaders and so they detained us,” said Mahendra Navadiyapresident, AAP, Surat.
Police officials claimed that there was no valid reason for AAP to organise the rally on Monday. “AAP leaders had organised a rally in Varachha on March 10 to celebrate their Punjab win. They did not cite the reason why they wanted to take out the rally on Monday,” said a senior police officer.
“It was a 18-km long rally and the route was designed in a manner that would have created multiple issues. Police detained the workers and released them in the evening,” the officer added. Of the 72 detained, 18 were women. The workers were detained at Godadara and Dindoli police stations. At the starting point of the rally, police asked AAP workers why they had gathered at the spot when they did not have permission and soon detained them. “We will continue our efforts for a rally in Limbayat till police give us permission,” said Navadiya.
Limbayat is considered an important assembly constituency by AAP and majority of the voters are migrant workers. Currently, Sangita Patil of BJP is MLA from the constituency.