Beauty pageant forced to close

SURAT, March 21: Hindu organisations revived their campaign against beauty pageants by forcing organisers to wind up one such contest in ...

SURAT, March 21: Hindu organisations revived their campaign against beauty pageants by forcing organisers to wind up one such contest in Navsari late last night, and turning their wrath on Tribal Development Minister Mangubhai Patel for attending it.

Patel, whose car was stoned even as he was leaving the venue Tata Hall escaped unhurt, after the contest was abruptly ended. He was driven away to safety under a heavy police escort.

Sources said the Hindu organisations had requested Patel against attending the contest saying they were opposed to it. When the Mr and Mrs South Gujarat show began, the organisations opposed to it started calling up Tata Hall asking the organisers to stop midway.

Later an unidentified person called up saying a bomb had been planted at the venue. The first round of the contest was coming to an end when a few stones were reportedly pelted from outside and some individuals created a ruckus inside the hall.

When things began to worsen, Patel thought it wise to leave the venue. 8220;It was a minor incident. A few individuals pelted stones at my vehicle. It was pitch dark so I could not see their faces. I don8217;t know which organisations they belong to,8221; Patel told Express Newsline, trying to play down the incident.

He claimed he had left the venue before the programme began and was not aware what happened later. He also denied that windshield of his car was smashed.

After his departure, the police swung into action forcing the organisers to wind up the show. The police did use some force to disperse the angry activists but did not register any case. District Superintendent of Police Amarsinh Vasava went to the extent of saying, 8220;Nothing happened. Nobody has lodged a complaint.8221; While the minister himself confirmed the incident of stone throwing, Vasava did not.

Story continues below this ad

The police personnel posted at the venue had another job at hands. Angered by the abrupt closure, the audience 8212; especially those who had bought tickets 8212; gave them a tough time wanting to know why the show was cancelled. The police later claimed that the show had to be cancelled because the organisers did not have any license from the Mamlatdar. They could not explain how did they allow the programme to begin when it did not have permission in the first place.

A party source said the minister was against registering any police case about the incident saying 8220;it is a matter within the family8221;.