Over 200 BJP activists arrested during demonstration in Jammu and Kashmir

Over 200 BJP activists, including three BJP MLAs, were here today arrested while they were carrying out an anti-government demonstration over the issue of banning of inter-district recruitment and clashed with the police.
    
Over 900-1000 BJP activists, led by BJP Legislative Party leader Chaman Lal Gupta, marched towards Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, raising anti-government and anti-CM slogans.
    
The BJP activists, including two other MLAs prof Garu Ram and Bharat Bhushan, were intercepted by the police at Shalimar Chowk, leading to a clash between the two sides.
    
They were not allowed to move towards Civil Secretariat and in violation of section 144, police arrested over 200 activists, including the 3 MLAs, police said, adding, "we did not use force or canecharge".
    
"We warn government not to ban inter-district recruitments. It would be considered as anti-Jammu and anti-SC decision," Ram told reporters here today.
    
He alleged the government is taking this step due to pressure from Kashmiri leaders of PDP and NC.
    
The BJP members raised the issue of the arrest of the party MLAS with speaker Mohmmad Akbar Lone and asked the government to release them immediately.
    
Making a statement on the floor of the House, law minister AM Sagar assured they will be released.