Guj Cong workers, MLAs detained for protest outside CBI office

Over 40 Congress workers and leaders from Gujarat, including eight MLAs and former state unit chief, were Friday detained for protesting outside the CBI office in Gandhinagar, police said.

Before their detention, Congressmen took out a one km-long march - from a church to the CBI office located in sector 10 of the state capital- to protest against the move to divest CBI Director Alok Verma of his powers.

"We detained 47 Congress workers and leaders, including (party's former state unit chief) Bharatsinh Solanki and eight MLAs. They were released after some time," Gandhinagar Superintendent of Police, Mayur Chavda, said.

The legislators, who took part in the protest and were taken into custody by the police included Shailesh Parmar, C J Chavda, Himmatsinh Patel and Imran Khedawala, among others.

During their protest march, Congress workers raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of "interfering in the affairs of the CBI", Parthivraj Kathvadia, general secretary of Gujarat Congress's youth wing, said.

Congress's protest in Gandhinagar was part of the opposition party's nationwide stir against the government's decision to divest CBI Director Alok Verma of his powers.