Around 500 Congress workers taken into custody ahead of PM Modi's Chandigarh visit

Chandigarh: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the city on Friday, around 500 Congress workers were taken into preventive custody by police in Chandigarh apprehending the possibility of a “breach of the peace”. Congress workers said they had planned to show black flags to Modi during his visit in protest against the alleged anti-people policies of the Centre. [caption id=“attachment_2421562” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Prime Minister Narendra Modi. AFP[/caption] “We have taken them (Congress workers) into preventive custody upon apprehension that they may cause a breach of the peace. They will be released once the prime minister leaves the city in the afternoon,” a senior police officer said. Meanwhile, wide traffic restrictions were put in place in Chandigarh city in view of Modi’s visit which saw commuters, particularly those coming from Panchkula and Mohali, finding it difficult to travel to work. Talking about the police’s move, Chandigarh Congress president Pradeep Chabbra said, “Around 500 workers of Congress party were taken into custody by police in the wee hours today.” The Congress leader said his party had planned a protest rally against the “anti-people” policies of the BJP-led government at the Centre to coincide with Modi’s visit. He further said that the party was against the imposition of House tax in the city. Chabbra also claimed that police in civilian attire had been posted outside the house of former railway minister and senior Congress leader Pawan Kumar Bansal. Coming to the Union Territory as part of a whirlwind tour which will see him also cover Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand on the same day, Modi will inaugurate the new terminal of Chandigarh airport on Friday, besides attending some other events. “Will visit Chandigarh tomorrow, where I will inaugurate a housing scheme, new civil air terminal & attend convocation at PGIMER,” Modi had said in a tweet on Thursday. PTI