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Hardik Patel, Gujarat Congress MLA planning jal samadhi detained by police
The Patidar leader and five other Congress MLAs were present at the Bhuki village near Jetpur, where Vasoya planned to immerse himself
Congress MLA Lalit Vasoya and Patidar quota stir leader Hardik Patel were detained on Saturday by the Gujarat police to prevent the lawmaker from taking ‘Jalsamadhi’ (suicide by immersion) in Bhadar river over the issue of pollution by dyeing units.
Vasoya, who represents Dhoraji constituency and is a former member of Patel’s Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti, had threatened to immerse himself in this river of Saurashtra region as the BJP government paid no heed to their complaints against dyeing units, though polluted water is causing health problems in over 50 villages.
“Over 100 dyeing units of Jetpur town release chemicals into the Bhadar river. This has left the water polluted, causing range of health issues in 52 villages of Jetpur and Dhoraji talukas. Despite repeated representation in this regard by the locals and me, the government has taken no action,” Vasoya told the media before police detained him.
The Patidar leader and five other Congress MLAs were present at the Bhuki village near Jetpur, where Vasoya planned to immerse himself. “I was here only to support Vasoya. I had no plans to take Jalsamadhi. Still, the police have arrested me,” said Patel.
The BJP called the entire episode a “drama”. “The Congress and its members now and then act out some or other drama to attract attention. If there was some issue, they should have made proper representation,” said BJP state president Jitu Vaghani.
Jetpur is hub of textile tie-and-dye units, with a majority of them exporting their products to African countries.
