The Narendra Modi government demonstrated its intolerance by targeting the media during the Jankranti Rally organised by the Congress, to mark the August Kranti divas on Thursday.

Cameramen of electronic media and photographers covering the event were targeted by the police in a pre-planned manner.

Policemen lobbed tear gas shells on Congress members at the Pathik Ashram circle in Gandhinagar at the programme organised by the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee to gherao (cordon) the Secretariat even as speeches were being delivered.

The Congressmen who sought refuge in complexes nearby were pulled out and severly injured. Women Congress members were also hit.

As many as 200 Congressmen were detained and atleast 10 injured were admitted to hospitals.

Police officers close to the chief minister, including the former Gandhinagar DSP R B Brahmbhatt, who is now Rajkot Rural DSP and several other officers, were specifically posted for attacking the media.

Later, the media was also restricted from entering governor Nawal Kishor Sharma’s official residence, when the Congress members submitted a memorandum criticising the Modi rule in the state.

Anti-democratic
GPCC president Bharat Solanki called the police attack “anti-democratic” after permission was sought for organising the programme.

Leader of the Opposition in the state Vidhan Sabha, Arjun Modhwadia said that this was a demonstration by the Narendra Modi government of what was in store for the media and the Opposition in the next four months. The BJP too criticised the police attack but media in-charge Yamal Vyas said he was not aware of details of the police action on party members.