Gujarat MLA and Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani arrested by Assam Police

Gujarat's Vadgam MLA Jignesh Mevani was arrested by the Assam Police from Palanpur Circuit House around 11:30 pm last night, as per Mevani's team.

Mevani, the convenor of the political party Rashtriya Dalit Adhikar Manch, was arrested for allegedly "spreading enmity between communities". He is being taken to Ahmedabad by road from where he will be taken by train to Guwahati in Assam.

His Twitter account shows that some recent tweets by him have been withheld due to a request by authorities. As per reports, the Congress leaders' supporters will protest against his arrest at the national capital today, April 21, with slogans of 'save the constitution, save the country'.

A case was lodged against Mevani under sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), section 153(A) (promoting enmity between two communities), 295(A), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), and sections of the IT Act.

Mevani is independent MLA from Vadgam seat in Banaskantha. He recently joined Congress.In a statement, Mevani's office said he was arrested by Assam police from Palanpur circuit House at 11:30 pm on Wednesday.

Gujarat Congress president Jagdish Thakor and other Congress leaders rushed to Ahmedabad Airport after learning about his arrest and shouted slogans against the BJP government.