Hisar rural Congress chief under house arrest, another key leader detained

Hisar: Ahead of the proposed Assembly gherao in Chandigarh under the MNREGA Bachao Sangram Abhiyan, the police on Wednesday morning placed several Congress leaders under preventive detention, deploying heavy force outside their residences. While the Hisar rural district president was confined to his home, the urban district president managed to reach Chandigarh and joined the protest before being detained. The protest call was given by the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee as part of its campaign against alleged irregularities in the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA). Hisar rural district Congress president Brijlal Bahbalpuria alleged that police personnel reached his residence around 5 am in multiple vehicles, and prevented him from leaving for Chandigarh. "The govt exposed its nervousness even before the protest. Detaining leaders in the early hours reflects fear of peaceful and democratic protests. This is an attempt to suppress the voice of the people," he said, terming the action as an attack on democratic rights.
Meanwhile, Bajrang Garg, senior spokesperson of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee and Hisar urban district president, participated in the protest in Chandigarh along with party workers. He, along with Rahul Garg and other Congress leaders, was detained by the police and taken to the Sector 3 police station. They were later released. Bajrang Garg alleged that both the Centre and the state govt were attempting to stifle opposition voices. "In a democracy, everyone has the right to express their views," he said. Hisar Sadar police station in-charge Naveen said Congress leader Brij Lal Bahabalpuria and another individual were detained from their respective residences for a brief period as a preventive measure, and were later released.Caption of photo: Police vehicles stationed outside the residence of Hisar Rural District Congress President Brijlal Bahbalpuria. MSID:: 128784256 413 |