Nagpur: The repercussions of Rahul Gandhi’s detention over One Rank One Pension (OROP) echoed in Nagpur when irate Congress workers blocked roads at Variety Square and tried to damage Star and ST buses on Wednesday evening. Traffic was completely thrown out of gear at busting Sitabuldi area because of the commotion as the police remained mute spectators to the whole drama.
Ex-serviceman Ram Kishan Grewal committed suicide allegedly over OROP issues on Wednesday. Rahul Gandhi was detained by Delhi police as he was on his way to visit the grieving family. His detention infuriated Congress workers in Nagpur as former Union minister Vilas Muttemwar, city Congress president Vikas Thakre and Umakant Agnihotri led the agitation at Variety Square.
The road block agitation soon turned violent as Congress workers tried to disrupt the traffic flow. They climbed atop the Star buses when the drivers tried to take their vehicles away from the commotion. The drivers were pulled out the busses as some activists tried to break bus panes. After this, the agitators turned their attention towards buses passing from nearby signals.
They had a skirmish with cops when agitators tried to burn the effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Leaders and workers formed a human-circle at Variety Square and disrupted the traffic. Heated anti-Modi and anti-government slogans were raised at the agitation which lasted for over an hour.
Police administration failed miserably to curtail the drama as Congress workers ran amok at Variety Square. After letting agitators vent their anger for over a hour, police arrested some leaders and activists. Remaining leaders then gathered at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi and continued sloganeering. The agitators also had heated arguments with commuters returning home in the evening. The situation remained tense at Variety Square for a long time.
