Protest march against PM Modi denied, Congress releases black balloons

DAMAN: The opposition Congress today released hundreds of black balloons to protest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi after police stopped them from carrying out a march to the venue of the Prime Ministerial programme.

Police said that some party workers also waved black flags as Modi's motorcade approached the venue from the helipad where the PM's aircraft touched down. The PM was in Daman to lay the foundation stone of some projects.

Police officials said that no one had been detained for the protest.


The president of the Daman and Diu unit of the Congress, Ketan Patel, however alleged that police had cordoned off his house and had detained party workers who had gathered there.

Patel said that he, along with these workers, had planned to march to the programme venue from his house but the plan was foiled by the police.

"Hundreds of party workers had gathered at my residence here since morning. But a large posse of police was deployed outside to prevent us from marching out," Patel said.

He said it was to overcome this situation that the party decided to release black balloons near the venue.

Patel said that the police allowed them to carry on with the protest march after the PM's programme concluded.