By IANS,
Gandhinagar: Former Gujarat chief ministers Shankersinh Vaghela and Suresh Mehta were detained in Ahmedabad Sunday while they were on their way to lead a rally to protest against the policies of Narendra Modi government.
The former chief ministers and ex-Congress MP Madhusudan Mistry were later released in the evening.
Activists of Congress affiliated National Students Union of India (NSUI) later went on the rampage stoning Ahmedabad municipal transport buses and private vehicles.
Vaghela, a former union textile minister, termed the arrest as another example of the repressive ways of the Modi government.
“If we cannot even go to pay our respects at the statue of Babasaheb Ambedkar on his death anniversary and express our support to the agitating government employees then god help this government. This government is on a suicidal path,” he said.
Mehta said police used force to arrest them even as they entered Ahmedabad from Gandhinagar.
“State government employees are one large family and when its head turns repressive, the logical result is rebellion,” he said.
The call for the rally was given by the Prabuddha Nagrik Manch, a citizens body.
The government had earlier permitted the rally by the state government employees demanding pay parity in accordance with the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission.
However, citing threats of a terror strike in view of 17th anniversary of the Babri mosque demolition, the permission for the rally was cancelled. The rally organisers refused to change their plans.
The agitating state government employees were permitted to hold their rally at a different venue but subject to a dozen conditions that included that no politician be allowed to attend.
“The permission is only for government employees and no outsider including political leaders will be allowed to participate in it,” said Joint Commissioner of Police Satish Sharma.
Fiery speeches marked the rally which concluded in the evening.
Speakers spoke of large scale attempts by the government to prevent employees coming from outside from joining the rally by impounding vehicles on the way and preventing them from reaching the city.
Meanwhile anonymous half-page advertisements appeared in leading Gujarati dailies alleging that government employees are becoming tools in the hands of political parties.
Vishnu Patel, president of the Gujarat state employees coordination committee, has alleged it to be the handiwork of the state government to misguide the employees.
“The government wants to split the employees but we are united and aware of it. Our stir is for our demands and we have no political connections but if somebody extends support, he is welcome to do so,” Patel said.