Jignesh Mevani blames PMO for arrest, calls for Gujarat Bandh

New Delhi, May 2 (Agency) Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mevani, who was twice arrested by Assam police before a court pulled up the state Police for a “false FIR”, said on Monday his arrest was a conspiracy, and alleged that the Prime Minister’s Office was involved. Mevani also slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Gujarat for not taking action in cases like that of leak of Gujarat Subordinate Service Selection Board’s (GSSSB) exam paper, seizure of drugs from Mundra port, and other issues, and questioned the intention behind his arrest. Congress-backed Independent MLA from Gujarat’s Vadgam called for a Gujarat Bandh on June 1 against the BJP government. Calling his arrest a “pre-planned conspiracy”, he said, “This is the cowardice of 56 inches”. “Protocol and privilege were blatantly disregarded, even Speaker of Gujarat assembly was not informed”, Mevani said. He also referred to the court order and said he has faith in the judiciary. ” There is no case against me. The court said there is prima facie no case against me. What is the Assam police doing?

Who is asking them to do this” Mevani questioned. “Despite such strong observations by the court, the Assam government is not feeling embarrassed… Why did the Assam police feel the need to arrest a sitting MLA who is thousands of kilometers away… My allegation is that this conspiracy was designed by the office of Prime Minister of India,” he said. “Some Godse bhakts who are sitting in the PMO were behind my arrest,” he said , adding that he will be in Delhi for next 24 hours and challenged police to arrest him for his comments. He added that his residence and MLA quarters were raided. “As if I am a terrorist,” he said. Mewani said his laptop as well as devices of his team members were seized by the police, and expressed apprehension that they might be bugged. He challenged the Gujarat government to address issues raised by him, and gave a call for a Gujarat Bandh on June 1. The MLA was arrested by an Assam police team from Palanpur town in Gujarat over some tweets that criticised PM Narendra Modi. He got a bail on April 25 and was re-arrested in an assault case filed by a policewoman, which the court later said was “manufactured”.