Bhopal:
Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad and several others were today detained at Bhopal airport, a day ahead of protests demanding reservation for OBCs in Madhya Pradesh capital Bhopal.
The protesters are demanding 27 per cent reservation for OBCs. He has also hinted at the third political front of Other Backward Castes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes ahead of the 2023 Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections.
He said that Bhim Army and tribal organization Jai Yuva Adivasi Shakti were allies in his struggle for OBC quota.
Police said that heavy security arrangements have been made at all entry points of Bhopal.
Bhopal Police Commissioner Makrand Devaskar said that Azad was detained by the police along with several others at the Bhopal airport. The police also said that the exact number of prisoners would be known only later.
Mr Devaskar said 80-90 people were detained but later released.
“We stopped around 1500 protesters and sent them back. We suspect that they were going to gather at Roshanpura Chowk, from where they were on their way to the chief minister’s residence,” the commissioner said.
OBC-ST/SC Mahasabha gheraoed CM House demanding 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in Panchayat elections, heavy police presence, many leaders were detained @ndtvindia@ndtv#OBC Reservationpic.twitter.com/tyT1ixc9zW
— by Anurag (@Anurag_Dwary) 2 January 2022
Supporting the movement, former CM Kamal Nath said that the police action was unfair as the OBC body had already announced a protest.
State Urban Development Minister Bhupendra Singh hit back saying that some people are playing politics in the name of OBC quota, to ensure that the state is working hard to ensure 27% reservation in panchayat elections.
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