Police detain over 30 in Kevadiya holding protest in presence of Haryana CM

Kevadiya: Police today detained at least 33 protestors in Kevadiya town of Narmada district in Central Gujarat today when they were opposing a foundation laying event by Haryana CM Manoharlal Khattar here at a close place form the statue of unity.

In-charge SP Achal Tyagi said that the displaced of Narmada project from Kevadiya and other villages were opposing any kind of construction here including the proposed Haryana Bhavan’s foundation laying event in presence of Mr Khattar.

‘More than 150 of them had assembled near Reva bhavan here and said that they wanted to give a memorandum to the Haryana CM. 33 of them were detained. Some of the protestors also tried to block the road and when police tried to remove them they pelted stones which also resulted in injury of a policeman,’ Tyagi said.

‘When the incident happened, the Haryana CM was in the circuit house at a distance of around 2 km from the venue,’ Tyagi added saying that another FIR would be lodged against those indulged in stone pelting.

Meanwhile, one of the activists Lakhan Musafir while hailed the protests expressed regrets about the violent way of it. ‘It is going to be a long drawn battle and there could be no place for violence. We don’t have to do with any party politics and follow Gandhi’s non-violent ways. The gram-sabhas had passed a resolution to not to hand over even an inch of land for such activities and a large number of displaced including women had participated in the protest,’ he said.

Musafir also said that a message have been received from the government that CM Vijay Rupani would meet 15 of our representatives on this issue.

He also claimed that due to vehement opposition Khattar could not come to the venue to perform Bhumi pujan the way it was planned. Forest Minister of Gujarat Ganpat Vasava was also present today with Khattar who had arrived here from Gandhinagar following participation in vibrant Gujarat summit.

Musafir said that those detained have been kept in Kevadiya and Rajpipala. Police had earlier detained their aide Praful Vasava.

DeshGujarat