BJP leaders staged a rally to oppose the arrest of minister of state for home, Amit Shah, on Sunday. A large number of BJP workers, AMC officials, corporators and supporters thronged the Ellisbridge before transforming into a huge, silent procession that blocked the Ashram Road at 4 pm.

Braving heavy rains, the protesters carried placards and posters with slogans against CBI investigations and against the central government, and in Shah’s support.

According to city police officials, who were there for security purposes, the rally was peaceful and no incident was reported during the three-kilometre long walk from Town Hall to the Income Tax circle.

The call for protest rally was given to all the party units in the city to congregate near Town Hall. The workers had tied black cloth strips to show their silent angst and protest against the arrest of Shah in the case.

The rallyists carried placards slogans proclaiming Shah as innocent and blaming Congress for misusing CBI against the state minister of home in Gujarat. The protesters also demanded fair probe against CBI’s double standards in the state and elsewhere.

Rakesh Shah, city BJP president, who was part of the rally, told TOI: “People turned up in large numbers to support the party today. It was a silent protest rally that went off peacefully.”

Several vehicle drivers and bikers were also part of the rally. Several BJP office holders and leaders were seen in the rally including former state minister and MLA Bharat Barot.

Source by TimesofIndia