Two Congress leaders arrested in Gujarat

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Paranjaydiptya Sinh, Congress legislator from Santrampur, and Hirabhai Patel, were detained hours before they were to attend the Garib Kalyan Mela being organized by the state government.

According to Congress sources, the police turned up at Pradiptyasinh's residence in the morning in a bid to dissuade him from attending the state function which was being organized in his constituency.

However, when he refused to relent saying that as people's representative it was his duty to attend a state function being held in his constituency, he was detained. He was released after the function was over. Patel was also detained in similar fashion.

Late last month, former leader of the Congress opposition in the Vidhan Sabha, Arjun Modvadia was similarly detained to prevent him from attending the Garib Kalyan Mela in Porbandar. Besides being the spokesperson of the Gujarat Congress, he is also the Congress legislator from Porbandar.

Two days ago, three Congress MLAs Bachubhai Kishori, Vajesinh Pandha and Chandrika Baria along with MP Prabhaben Taviad faced a similar situation the day a Garib Kalyan Mela was held at Dahod. The Gujarat government has initiated a high profile string of 'Garib Kalyan Melas' in various parts of the state wherein financial help is distributed directly to people by the chief minister.

The Congress has termed these fairs as an insult of the poor and organized a dharna in protest.