Regional (M.P & C.G)

Congress protest turned violent, Water cannons, tear gas shells on Bhopal roads

BHOPAL: Congress protest against the expulsion of its two party MLA in Bhopal have turned violent on Friday, as workers pelted stones against police, leaving 26 people injured including six policemen.
Disregarding appeals of senior party leaders, including AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh, the Youth Congress workers clashed with the police breaking down barricades, pelting stones and brick bats, ransacking, smashing government department vehicles and attacking a large contingent of uniformed men from the narrow alleys of old Bhopal city.
Police resorted to random cane-charge and fired tear-gas to disperse the unruly crowd as party leaders left the spot soon after violence broke out. Former chief minister and senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh tried to bring the situation under control even telling the state PCC president Kantilal Bhuria to expel party workers who broke the rules. But no one was listening. Addressing the rally, Digvijay Singh made three appeals. He asked the party’s youth wing not to mutilate the Congress flags by printing names of factional leaders on them.
An irate Digvijay Singh said, “No Congress flag should bear the name of party leaders and factional heads. The party flag has to be respected and not utilised for the benefit of certain persons. Second, there should be no violence. We will protest in a democratic and non-violent manner. I do not want to be part of any violent means of protest. And third, only those persons invited to come to dais to give a speech will do so.” A furious Singh ordered party workers to lower the sticks they were carrying.
Talking to mediapersons, Bhuria alleged that BJP people were involved in the stone-pelting on police personnel, following which they resorted to cane-charge.
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Ajay Singh met some of the injured party workers who were admitted in JP Hospital.
The rally had been organsied by Madhya Pradesh Youth Congress (MPYC) here to highlight the issue of corruption. Trouble began after the event was over and MPYC workers and Congress leaders were courting arrest.
Soon there was stone-pelting, forcing the people to run for cover, police said. Deputy Inspector General (Bhopal) Yogesh Choudhary said that stone-pelting began from the Congress side after its workers were prevented from marching towards the Chief Minister’s residence. Police wielded batons and fired teargas shells to control the situation.

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