Former Gujarat chief ministers detained ahead of rally in Ahmedabad

Former Gujarat chief ministers—Shankar Singh Vaghela and Suresh Mehta - were detained along with few of their supporters for trying to take out a rally in support of the state government employees' here today, police said.

The two leaders were detained in the Shahibaug area, where members of the Prabuddh Nagarik Shakti Manch (PNSM), a non-profit outfit floated by Vaghela and Mehta, had gathered, they said.

According to police, the former CM's were detained as a preventive measure since they did not have permission for a rally in support of the state government employees' who are pressing for implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission.

"Vaghela has been detained along with some of his colleagues. They are being take to Gandhinagar," JCP Satish Sharma told PTI. The two leaders were to address the employees', who are disgruntled with the state government for not addressing their long pending issues.

Police had cancelled PNSM's rally to be held today, citing security reasons, as it was coinciding with the Babri Masjid demolition day.