Police baton-charge protesting Congress workers in Gujarat

The Gujarat police baton-charged a violent protest by the state opposition Congress party against Chief Minister Narendra Modi here on Thursday.

Gandhinagar, Aug 9 : The Gujarat police baton-charged a violent protest by the state opposition Congress party against Chief Minister Narendra Modi here on Thursday.

A large number of Congress activists from across the state had gathered here to what they said "free the state secretariat" from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

But the protest-- to coincide with Mahatma Gandhi's call to the British to 'Quit India' in 1942-- turned violent, forcing security forces to resort to baton-charge and use water canons.

Police also detained over 100 Congress workers, including its state president Bharat Solanki and leader of opposition in the State Assembly Arjun Modhvadia. They were released later.

"Our party workers from all over Gujarat were coming to take part in this protest when police and the government stopped them from taking part in this protest and even put some of our party workers behind bars," said Bharat Solanki.

The Congress legislators later boycotted the proceedings to protest the baton-charge of their party workers.

"The terror which British Raj was spreading before independence in India, in the same manner the Government of Gujarat is spreading its terror among our party workers, and today they even tortured and arrested some of them," said Arjun Modhwadia.

ANI