Ajai Rai slams PM over arrest of 5 protesters in Varanasi

Congress today alleged that five persons were arrested for staging a protest in front of the Prime Minister's parliamentary office here.
Congress MLA from Pindra, Ajai Rai, who unsuccessfully contested against Narendra Modi in 2014 Lok Sabha elections, alleged that the five men were arrested for a night on May 26 for staging a dharna in demand of proper water supply in Kirahia locality here.
They were released next morning after their matter was taken to the district court with the help of Congress workers, Rai claimed at a press conference.
However, Circle Officer of Bhelupur, Alok Jaiswal said the five persons were arrested as they have not obtained a prior police permission to hold a protest.

Alleging that office-bearers at the PM's parliamentary office at Ravindrapuri have framed a rule to prevent gathering of more than five persons at a time, Rai said if the limit is crossed they call the police and get them arrested.
He sought PM's intervention and demanded that such arrest should immediately be stopped.

Rai said that this "dictatorship" should be stopped immediately, and people of Varanasi have right to lodge protest before office of an elected MP.
However, BJP's Varanasi constituency media-in charge Sanjay Bhardwaj refuted Rai's all charges saying parties like Congress and Samajwadi Party are "orchestrating such dharnas to malign PM's image".

"They are trying to send wrong message that people's works are not getting done here but in reality a lot of public work is being done in Varanasi on behest of PM Modi," he said.