MUMBAI: Scores of activists of several wings of the Congress party today took out a morcha to Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar's residence the protest against the suspension of 25 its members from Lok Sabha.
Activists of Mahila, Youth and NSUI wings of Mumbai Congress were also staging the protest over "non-fulfilment" of promises made during Lok Sabha and state elections by Narendra Modi-led BJP government, corruption allegations against BJP chief ministers and to counter the dharna at its leader Gurudas Kamat's residence.
"Unlike the BJP activists, the Congress activists have been told strictly not to damage any property or to take law in their own hands, but to only demonstrate and protest by shouting slogans. BJP activists pelted stones at one of the vehicles carrying our workers and damaged the glass windows," claimed Zakir Ahmed, Vice President of Mumbai Congress.
He said the morcha was led by Mahila Congress chief Sheetal Mhatre, Youth Congress president Ganesh Yadav and NSUI President Vipin Singh.
Ahmed said the protestors marched from Rang Sharda auditorium in Bandra to Shelar's residence but were prevented by the police.
"Several of our activists were detained by the police," he said.
The morcha was seen as a counter to BJP activists protesting against Kamat's criticism of HRD Minister Smriti Irani outside his house recently.
When asked what was the reason for another morcha when city unit chief Sanjay Nirupam had led a protest on the same issue yesterday, Ahmed said today's morcha was organised by the frontal organisations of the city unit Congress.
On August 3, 25 of Congress party's 44 members were suspended for five working days for continuously disrupting the House by demanding resignation of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje over Lalit Modi issue and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan over Vyapam scam.