Protest at venue of Kejriwal’s rally in Surat, 35 detained

SURAT, Oct 16: The city police detained several protesters ahead of a rally of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal here this evening.

Those detained were protesting against the AAP supremo for his comments “seeking proof” of the army’s surgical strikes on terror launchpads in PoK.

Protesters, waving black flags and breaking black earthen pots, dubbed Kejriwal as “pro-Pakistan” and asked him to leave Surat.

Members of an organisation, ‘Brahm Padkar Samiti’, were detained by the police from outside the Yogi Chowk venue of the rally.

Members of a Patidar group too staged a protest near the venue and were detained. “Around 35 protesters were detained and later released,” a police officer said.

Ahead of Kejriwal’s visit and rally here, banners came up at various parts of the city, depicting him as one of the “Heroes of Pakistan” by putting his photo alongside Osama bin Laden, Burhan Wani and Hafiz Saeed.

Banners about the “dubious” track record of several ministers of the AAP Government in Delhi were also put up.

In some societies in the Patel-dominated Varachha area, posters warning the AAP leader against entering the area had also surfaced a few days back. (PTI)