Ambedkar detained near Aarey Colony, hits out at Maha govt

Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar was on Sunday detained when he tried to enter the Aarey Colony here in support of the activists who are opposing the cutting of trees in the area to make way for a Metro car shed.

He alleged that the Maharashtra government was using "muscle power" to silence those raising voice against tree felling.

The police on Saturday imposed Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code in Aarey, restricting movements and gathering of groups, and cordoned off the area.

When the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) chief reached the Aarey area located in suburban Goregaon on Sunday in support of those opposing tree felling, he was detained by police for a brief period.

Later, after being left off, he told reporters, "The green cover at Aarey Colony helps in the purification of air, the same way as fresh breeze coming from the Arabian Sea helps in keeping Mumbai air clean."