BJP youth wing demonstrates near PM House, 200 detained

About 200 activists of BJP's youth wing were detained outside Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's official residence here Sunday as they demonstrated, demanding his resignation after two union ministers quit over malfeasance and impropriety.

The activists of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), the youth wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), gathered near the 7 Race Course Road residence of the prime minister in the New Delhi area - the seat of the central government within Delhi - around 12 noon.

"Two hundred protestors were detained, including BJYM chief Anurag Thakur and the BJP's Delhi unit chief, Vijay Goel. They were taken in three buses to Tughlakabad police station and later let off, around 2 p.m.," a senior police official told IANS.

Burning the effigy of the prime minister near his official residence, the BJYM protestors managed to break through two police barricades. Police personnel used tear shells and water cannons to beat them back.

According to police, several roads leading to 7 Race Course Road like Akbar Road and Ashoka Road were closed to the general public, and traffic was diverted.

"Proper security arrangements are made near the Prime Minister's House. Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, banning any gathering of four or more people, have been imposed in areas of central Delhi, including 7 Race Course Road," the police official said.

The Race Course Road Metro station, which was closed since 11 a.m. to the public, was re-opened around 2 p.m., officials of Delhi Metro said.

Pawan Kumar Bansal was removed as the railway minister and Ashwani Kumar resigned as the law minister Friday, following allegations of corruption and impropriety against them.