SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Aug 5: Notwithstanding having record membership in the district, only a few Congress leaders appeared for the ongoing nationwide protest against price hikes and unemployment and courted their arrest in Dhanbad under district president Brajendra Prasad Singh.
The police arrested Congress leaders, and workers and packed them in a bus and sent it to Sadar police station after they blocked the Collectorate gate for more than 40 minutes.
District president Brajendra Prasad Singh, vice-president Vaibhav Sinha, senior leader Vijay Kumar Singh, Mukhtar Khan, Sultan Ahmed, Santosh Singh Manoj Singh, Shamsher Alam, district women cell president Sita Rana and others were among those who courted their arrest.
However, state committee working president Jaleshwar Mahto, district committee working president Ravindra Verma, and general secretary Satpal Singh Boka did not ride on the police bus for arrest but rather continued their Dharna at the Collectorate gate.
Earlier at 11.40 am, the Congress leaders reached Gandhi Seva Sadan near Randhir Verma Chowk in separate groups. A senior leader pointed out that 31 leaders had claimed the post of district president but notably, only selected leaders appeared for the protest of the party and not their supporters. Hardly 50-55 leaders and activists carrying the party flag appeared for the agitation as well as court arresting.
Congress leaders, after chanting slogans in favour of Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for half an hour at Gandhi Seva Sadan, marched to Collectorate 100 metres away in a procession led by Brajendra Prasad Singh, Jaleshwar Mahto and working president Ravindra Verma.
After raising slogans and demonstrations, they blocked the Collectorate gate. “Price hike and unemployment have made the life of people. The Congress would continue the agitation till Narendra Modi government does not roll back,” said Brajendra Prasad Singh.
District working president Ravindra Verma said that massive demonstration and arrest of leaders as well as party workers show that Congress is ready for fighting against price hikes and unemployment.
