Jaipur, Aug 09: Rebel BJP member of assembly Devi Singh Bhati and several social justice forum activists, sitting on fast unto death demanding reservation for Rajputs and Brahmins, were arrested today. Bhati, president of SJF who was suspended from primary membership of the party after he announced to disrupt Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee`s meeting here tomorrow, was arrested along with his supporters from statue circle, near State Secretariat, under Section 151 of CrPC, district collector Sudhansh Pant said.

The arrested persons were produced before Sub-Divisional Magistrate Rajesh Singh who sent them to judicial custody, Superintendent of Police Sanjay Agarawal said.

Bhati and his supporters were arrested to avoid any untoward incident in Vajpayee`s meeting tomorrow in view of tension brewing up between SJF activists and BJP cadre, official sources said.
Chief minister Ashok Gehlot reviewed the situation with senior police and administrative officials here last night after his arrival from Delhi and directed the administration to take steps for avoiding any clash.

Gehlot said that efforts to disrupt Prime Minister proposed meeting would not be tolerated.

Earlier, Congress MLA Bhanwar Lal Sharma, president of Rajasthan Brahmin Mahasabha, one of the constituents of SJF, dissociated himself from Bhati`s announcement of disturbing Prime Minister`s meeting for not announcing reservation for poor people of upper castes. He also failed to reach here to participate in the agitation started on August 6.
Bureau Report