AAP leaders in Surat detained over laying foundation stone for school, let off

Over 10 AAP leaders, including leader of Opposition in Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC), Payal Sakariya, were detained by the police while they attempted to lay the foundation stone of Suman High School at Punagam on Wednesday. They were allowed to go in the evening.

The police said that SMC officials from Varachha rushed to the spot after learning about the ceremony and called the police. Personnel from Puna police reached the reserved plot belonging to SMC and detained AAP leaders. Sakariya told The Indian Express, “Two years ago, BJP leaders in SMC had decided to sell the reserved plot at Punagam to some private persons. We fought and saved the plot and for the last two years, we were fighting to start a high school on the same plot.”

She added that on December 16, 2023, the SMC commissioner accepted AAP’s demands, allowing the school to come up on the plot. “The work order for the construction of the school was issued to Standard Buildcon for Rs 7.32 crore,” said Sakariya.

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She alleged that BJP leaders wanted to get the foundation stone laid by either the chief minister or the Prime Minister. “Due to their busy schedule, the work on the school was getting delayed. We decided to lay the foundation stone but were prevented. We have not done anything illegal.”

Punagam police Inspector M C Nayak said, “We detained over 10 AAP leaders and released them in the evening. SMC officials contacted us for help and thus we took action.”