Cong MLA Jitu Patwari held during demonetisation protest in Indore

Congress MLA Jitu Patwari was arrested on Friday when he remained adamant on continuing his protest after being stopped from distributing potatoes free of cost to the people hit by demonetisation.

Congress MLA Jitu Patwari was arrested on Friday when he remained adamant on continuing his protest after being stopped from distributing potatoes free of cost to the people hit by demonetisation.

Congress activists protest at the collectorate in Indore on Friday. (Shankar Mourya/ HT photo)

The Indore City Congress Committee had organised a demonstration at Rajwada Square, the city’s busiest commercial area, under which party leaders were to distribute potatoes free to the people to protest the currency devaluation.

‘Demonetisation has hit sale of vegetables’

The Congress leaders said demonetisation has hit sale of vegetables, especially potatoes, as farmers are forced to sell their stocks for ₹3 to ₹5 per kilo instead of ₹15 per kilo. It was better to distribute potatoes free to people, they contended.

Patwari, who represents Rau assembly constituency, led about 200 farmers to Rajwada when they and their potato laden tractors were stopped near Manikbag. Altercation gave way to scuffle between policemen and demonstrators, after the protesters were not given permission to march ahead with the tractors.

Congress MLA Jitu Patwari carries a sack of potatoes on his back in Indore on Friday. (Shankar Mourya/ HT photo)

Cong activists dump potatoes at the Collectorate Road

An agitated Patwari and some of his supporters got down and walked up to the collectorate with sacks of potatoes on their backs. They dumped potatoes at the Collectorate Road as a mark of protest.

Patwari then sat outside the collectorate gate amidst scuffle. “I wanted to demonstrate peacefully but the police used force to stop me. Now, I will not move from here come what may,” Patwari told mediapersons.

Potatoes dumped on the floor of collector’s office in Indore on Friday. (Shankar Mourya/ HT photo)

City Congress president Pramod Tandon, party leader Antar Singh Darbar and others rushed to join Patwari at the collectorate. The agitation continued for over an hour following which the police picked up Patwari from the gate and took him to jail.

A large police force was deployed at Rajwada, the collectorate and Manikbag to keep situation under control.