A French minister, Marlene Schiappa, is drawing flak from her own party members for appearing on the cover of Playboy magazine.

The 40-year-old author, a self-described feminist, had appeared in the magazine as part of a 12-page interview she did on women’s and LGBT rights.

In the cover photo, Schiappa, who is the Minister for the Social Economy and French Associations, was photographed wearing a white dress.

Her decision was not supported by her colleagues within the government, which has been battling violent demonstrations over President Emanuel Macron’s plans to increase the retirement age.

According to AFP, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, who is only the second woman to occupy the position, called Schiappa to tell her that it "was not at all appropriate, especially in the current period".

The EELV party MP, Sandrine Rousseau, told BFM TV channel that she was not opposed to her decision, saying that she could have timed her move properly given the turmoil France is facing right now.

"Where is the respect for the French people? People who are going to have to work for two years more, who are demonstrating, who are losing days of salary, who aren't managing to eat because of inflation.”

"Women's bodies should be able to be exposed anywhere, I don't have a problem with that, but there's a social context."

However, the minister, who is the mother of two, defended her decision on Twitter on April 1.

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Invité ce matin sur Europe1 le Ministre de l’intérieur <a href="https://twitter.com/GDarmanin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GDarmanin</a> apporte son soutien à <a href="https://twitter.com/MarleneSchiappa?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MarleneSchiappa</a> sur sa Une Une de <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/playboy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#playboy</a>. Il cite Cookie Dingler : « vous ne me ferez pas dire de mal de Marlène Schiappa (…) être une femme libérée, c’est pas si facile » <a href="https://t.co/pz50OoQdls">pic.twitter.com/pz50OoQdls</a>
— Jeanne Baron (@jeannebarontv) <a href="https://twitter.com/jeannebarontv/status/1642452565823455232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2023</a></blockquote>
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"Defending the right of women to do what they want with their bodies: everywhere and all the time,"

"In France, women are free. Whether it annoys the retrogrades and hypocrites or not."

French Playboy editor Jean-Christophe Florentin said that Schiappa was the "most Playboy compatible" of her colleagues because of her feminist views, according to Sky News.

The magazine will be available to buy on April 8, according to Le Parisien newspaper.

(With inputs from agencies)

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A French minister, Marlene Schiappa, is drawing flak from her own party members for appearing on the cover of Playboy magazine. The 40-year-old author, a self-described feminist, had appeared in the magazine as part of a 12-page interview she did on women’s and LGBT rights.

A French minister, Marlene Schiappa, is drawing flak from her own party members for appearing on the cover of Playboy magazine. The 40-year-old author, a self-described feminist, had appeared in the magazine as part of a 12-page interview she did on women’s and LGBT rights. In the cover photo, Schiappa, who is the Minister for the Social Economy and French Associations, was photographed wearing a white dress. Her decision was not supported by her colleagues within the government, which has been battling violent demonstrations over President Emanuel Macron’s plans to increase the retirement age. According to AFP, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, who is only the second woman to occupy the position, called Schiappa to tell her that it "was not at all appropriate, especially in the current period". The EELV party MP, Sandrine Rousseau, told BFM TV channel that she was not opposed to her decision, saying that she could have timed her move properly given the turmoil France is facing right now. "Where is the respect for the French people? People who are going to have to work for two years more, who are demonstrating, who are losing days of salary, who aren't managing to eat because of inflation.” "Women's bodies should be able to be exposed anywhere, I don't have a problem with that, but there's a social context." However, the minister, who is the mother of two, defended her decision on Twitter on April 1. Invité ce matin sur Europe1 le Ministre de l’intérieur @GDarmanin apporte son soutien à @MarleneSchiappa sur sa Une Une de #playboy. Il cite Cookie Dingler : « vous ne me ferez pas dire de mal de Marlène Schiappa (…) être une femme libérée, c’est pas si facile » pic.twitter.com/pz50OoQdls — Jeanne Baron (@jeannebarontv) April 2, 2023 × "Defending the right of women to do what they want with their bodies: everywhere and all the time," "In France, women are free. Whether it annoys the retrogrades and hypocrites or not." French Playboy editor Jean-Christophe Florentin said that Schiappa was the "most Playboy compatible" of her colleagues because of her feminist views, according to Sky News. The magazine will be available to buy on April 8, according to Le Parisien newspaper. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

French minister faces flak for appearing on Playboy cover amidst mass agitation

An anti-Covid vaccine lockdown protest on the streets of Melbourne turned chaos on Tuesday after the police fired pepper balls and stinger grenades in a bid to disperse the agitators.

More than 1,000 demonstrators dressed as construction workers clashed with police for the second consecutive day and rampaged through the centre of Australia's second-largest city, lighting flares, throwing bottles, attacking police cars and chanting their opposition to vaccines and lockdown restrictions.

Police said 62 protesters were arrested and three police officers were injured along with one journalist.

Victoria’s police chief commissioner Shane Patton said officers used pepper balls, foam baton rounds, smoke bombs and stinger grenades which deploy rubber pellets.

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This is seriously out of control and someone is going to get hurt. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoHome?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoHome</a> now <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Melbourne?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Melbourne</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/protests?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#protests</a> <a href="https://t.co/jgbpIKWMQx">pic.twitter.com/jgbpIKWMQx</a>
— Níal Ó Fionnagáin (@NialFinegan) <a href="https://twitter.com/NialFinegan/status/1440194156643557383?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2021</a></blockquote>
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“These crowd control equipment munitions were necessary … because we can’t allow this type of conduct to go on,” he told reporters later in the day.

Video footage on social media showed police cars trying to leave one area before a mob attacked the vehicles with bottles and smashed windows. A line of riot police, weapons raised, then drove the protesters back.

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Didn't catch the really big bang but this was when it started getting scary <a href="https://t.co/yA0ud17bXY">pic.twitter.com/yA0ud17bXY</a>
— Michael Irving (@MikeIrvo) <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeIrvo/status/1440183951063093255?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/asked-to-put-on-mask-angry-customer-shoots-petrol-station-worker-in-germany-414648">Asked to put on mask, angry customer shoots petrol station worker in Germany</a>

Patton said they had a tip-off that protests have been planned again for Wednesday and he implored people to stay at home.

“No one benefits from this type of conduct, we will be out in force again, I can assure you of that,” he told reporters.

“I won’t disclose what our tactics will be tomorrow, but they will be different. Please just stay home, we do not want a confrontation.”

Melbourne&nbsp;has been in strict lockdown for seven weeks, as the city struggles to curb an outbreak of the fast-spreading Delta variant.

Several clusters have been linked to construction sites, where Covid containment measures are said to be lax.

In response, authorities have introduced ever-tougher restrictions, closing work site tea rooms, announcing mandatory vaccination for labourers and, most recently, closing almost all construction sites for two weeks.

(WIth inputs from agencies)

An anti-Covid vaccine lockdown protest on the streets of Melbourne turned chaos on Tuesday after the police fired pepper balls and stinger grenades in a bid to disperse the agitators.

An anti-Covid vaccine lockdown protest on the streets of Melbourne turned chaos on Tuesday after the police fired pepper balls and stinger grenades in a bid to disperse the agitators. More than 1,000 demonstrators dressed as construction workers clashed with police for the second consecutive day and rampaged through the centre of Australia's second-largest city, lighting flares, throwing bottles, attacking police cars and chanting their opposition to vaccines and lockdown restrictions. Police said 62 protesters were arrested and three police officers were injured along with one journalist. Victoria’s police chief commissioner Shane Patton said officers used pepper balls, foam baton rounds, smoke bombs and stinger grenades which deploy rubber pellets. This is seriously out of control and someone is going to get hurt. #GoHome now #Melbourne #protests pic.twitter.com/jgbpIKWMQx — Níal Ó Fionnagáin (@NialFinegan) September 21, 2021 × “These crowd control equipment munitions were necessary … because we can’t allow this type of conduct to go on,” he told reporters later in the day. Video footage on social media showed police cars trying to leave one area before a mob attacked the vehicles with bottles and smashed windows. A line of riot police, weapons raised, then drove the protesters back. Didn't catch the really big bang but this was when it started getting scary pic.twitter.com/yA0ud17bXY — Michael Irving (@MikeIrvo) September 21, 2021 × Also read | Asked to put on mask, angry customer shoots petrol station worker in Germany Patton said they had a tip-off that protests have been planned again for Wednesday and he implored people to stay at home. “No one benefits from this type of conduct, we will be out in force again, I can assure you of that,” he told reporters. “I won’t disclose what our tactics will be tomorrow, but they will be different. Please just stay home, we do not want a confrontation.” Melbourne has been in strict lockdown for seven weeks, as the city struggles to curb an outbreak of the fast-spreading Delta variant. Several clusters have been linked to construction sites, where Covid containment measures are said to be lax. In response, authorities have introduced ever-tougher restrictions, closing work site tea rooms, announcing mandatory vaccination for labourers and, most recently, closing almost all construction sites for two weeks. (WIth inputs from agencies)

Melbourne anti-Covid vaccine protests turn violent as police fire pepper balls, smoke bombs

Union government has allowed farmers protesting against the Centre's farm laws to enter Delhi with permission to hold their agitation at the Burari ground.

Farmers faced tear gas and water cannons along the Delhi-Haryana border and clashed with police today as they marched towards the national capital as part of their 'Delhi Chalo' protest against the Centre's new farm laws.&nbsp;

The Delhi Police used tear gas shells to disperse a group of farmers who had reached the Singhu border, while at the Tigri border security personnel used water cannons to disperse farmers trying to enter the national capital.

"We have been allowed safe passage to Delhi," claimed Krantikari Kisan Union president Darshan Pal.

He said that officials of the Union home ministry had allowed them a place at Burari in Delhi to hold agitation.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh also confirmed the development.

"I welcome Centre’s decision to allow farmers to enter Delhi to exercise their democratic right to protest. They should also now initiate immediate talks to address farmers' concerns on the #FarmLaws and resolve the simmering issue," he tweeted.

(With inputs from agencies)

Union government has allowed farmers protesting against the Centre's farm laws to enter Delhi with permission to hold their agitation at the Burari ground. Farmers faced tear gas and water cannons along the Delhi-Haryana border and clashed with police today as they marched towards the national capital as part of their 'Delhi Chalo' protest against the Centre's new farm laws.

Union government has allowed farmers protesting against the Centre's farm laws to enter Delhi with permission to hold their agitation at the Burari ground. Farmers faced tear gas and water cannons along the Delhi-Haryana border and clashed with police today as they marched towards the national capital as part of their 'Delhi Chalo' protest against the Centre's new farm laws. The Delhi Police used tear gas shells to disperse a group of farmers who had reached the Singhu border, while at the Tigri border security personnel used water cannons to disperse farmers trying to enter the national capital. "We have been allowed safe passage to Delhi," claimed Krantikari Kisan Union president Darshan Pal. He said that officials of the Union home ministry had allowed them a place at Burari in Delhi to hold agitation. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh also confirmed the development. "I welcome Centre’s decision to allow farmers to enter Delhi to exercise their democratic right to protest. They should also now initiate immediate talks to address farmers' concerns on the #FarmLaws and resolve the simmering issue," he tweeted. (With inputs from agencies)

Centre allows entry of farmers in Delhi, grants permission to conduct 'peaceful' agitation

Students from Gilgit Baltistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) joined a students' protest in Lahore to demand the immediate release of political activists, including Baba Jan and his accomplices, who have been imprisoned for the past nine years. 
 
Baba Jan is serving a ninety-year sentence which is based on trumped-up charges. He is an activist who challenged the then Pakistani administration which was essentially working against the people of Gilgit Baltistan. 
 
A student leader from Gilgit Baltistan said, "Baba Jan and his nine accomplices have been incarcerated in the jail for the past nine years. They did absolutely nothing. All that he (Baba Jan) did was to hold a demonstration against the government. He has been sentenced for ninety years without any trial. Does any country under the sun have this provision of sentencing someone for ninety years? We don't know till now under which section he has been punished". 
 
The Pakistan establishment has used the draconian schedule IV of Anti-Terrorism Act in Gilgit Baltistan to muzzle the reasonable voices that resist its repression. 
 
It has framed dozens under the law not only to give itself a free rein to rule the region but also to send a threatening message to all sections of the society. 
"We are a completely different territory. We deserve to have our own rights. However, we do not have even the right to life, " said another student leader. 
 
Puppet governments in Gilgit and Muzaffarabad, which largely operate at the command of the feudal elite of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, have committed systematic human rights violations to suppress the people of the region and keep them marginalised. 
 
Pakistan makes huge claims at international platforms about working for the welfare of Kashmiri people but the ground reality reeks of a rapidly deteriorating human rights situation in the region.

Students from Gilgit Baltistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) joined a students' protest in Lahore to demand the immediate release of political activists, including Baba Jan and his accomplices, who have been imprisoned for the past nine years.

Students from Gilgit Baltistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) joined a students' protest in Lahore to demand the immediate release of political activists, including Baba Jan and his accomplices, who have been imprisoned for the past nine years. Baba Jan is serving a ninety-year sentence which is based on trumped-up charges. He is an activist who challenged the then Pakistani administration which was essentially working against the people of Gilgit Baltistan. A student leader from Gilgit Baltistan said, "Baba Jan and his nine accomplices have been incarcerated in the jail for the past nine years. They did absolutely nothing. All that he (Baba Jan) did was to hold a demonstration against the government. He has been sentenced for ninety years without any trial. Does any country under the sun have this provision of sentencing someone for ninety years? We don't know till now under which section he has been punished". The Pakistan establishment has used the draconian schedule IV of Anti-Terrorism Act in Gilgit Baltistan to muzzle the reasonable voices that resist its repression. It has framed dozens under the law not only to give itself a free rein to rule the region but also to send a threatening message to all sections of the society. "We are a completely different territory. We deserve to have our own rights. However, we do not have even the right to life, " said another student leader. Puppet governments in Gilgit and Muzaffarabad, which largely operate at the command of the feudal elite of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, have committed systematic human rights violations to suppress the people of the region and keep them marginalised. Pakistan makes huge claims at international platforms about working for the welfare of Kashmiri people but the ground reality reeks of a rapidly deteriorating human rights situation in the region.

Protests demanding release of Baba Jan resurface in Pakistan

Thousands of protesters took part in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ready-to-meet-with-protest-leaders-colombian-government-265835">anti-government demonstrations in&nbsp;Colombia's</a> capital Bogota and other cities Wednesday during the country's&nbsp;third&nbsp;general&nbsp;strike&nbsp;in two weeks.

Strike&nbsp;leaders say they intend to maintain&nbsp;pressure&nbsp;on&nbsp;right-wing President Ivan&nbsp;Duque's government, after brushing aside his appeals to cancel the&nbsp;strike&nbsp;on&nbsp;the grounds its effects were crippling the economy.

But crowds were smaller than previous demonstrations as protests took place for a 14th consecutive day.

Some roads were blocked in the capital and in the northeastern city of Cali, but many businesses remained open.

Around 250,000 people took part in the first demonstration against&nbsp;Duque's 15-month-old government&nbsp;on&nbsp;November 21, when the initial&nbsp;general&nbsp;strike&nbsp;brought the country to a standstill.

Watch: Talks between Colombia strike committee, government end in deadlock

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/talks-between-colombia-strike-committee-government-end-in-deadlock-266191/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"The Colombian people have woken up!" shouted Paola Jiminez, a 41-year-old lawyer taking part in a pot-banging "cacerolazo" demonstration in Bogota.

"Colombians are finding it more and more difficult financially," she said.

A student taking part in one of several peaceful protests in Bogota, who gave his name as Nicolas, held up a banner saying: "The state lies more than my ex."

Police were deployed in nearby streets, but there were no confrontations of the kind that have marred <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/protests-in-colombia-spark-backlash-against-venezuelan-migrants-265637">some protests</a> over the last two weeks, during which four people died. Some 500 have been injured.

On&nbsp;Tuesday, the Colombian National&nbsp;Strike&nbsp;Committee,&nbsp;comprising unions, students and teacher organisations, indigenous groups and the opposition, met directly with&nbsp;Duque's advisors for the first time but reached no agreement.&nbsp;

Another meeting was scheduled for Thursday.

Under fire for his economic policies and corruption in the country,&nbsp;Duque&nbsp;launched a national dialogue with mayors and other officials 10 days ago.

The&nbsp;strike&nbsp;committee has presented&nbsp;Duque&nbsp;with a list of 13 demands, including the withdrawal of his proposed tax reforms, and full compliance with the 2016 peace deal with FARC guerrillas.

Among them is a call to dismantle the feared ESMAD riot police, widely criticised for its heavy-handed response to protesters.

Duque&nbsp;has yielded to some of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/colombia-strikers-expand-demands-include-possible-talks-with-rebels-265296">demands&nbsp;on&nbsp;tax reform</a>, announcing the return of Value Added Tax to the poorest 20 per cent of the population and benefits for companies that hire young people

Thousands of protesters took part in anti-government demonstrations in Colombia's capital Bogota and other cities Wednesday during the country's third general strike in two weeks.

Thousands of protesters took part in anti-government demonstrations in Colombia's capital Bogota and other cities Wednesday during the country's third general strike in two weeks. Strike leaders say they intend to maintain pressure on right-wing President Ivan Duque's government, after brushing aside his appeals to cancel the strike on the grounds its effects were crippling the economy. But crowds were smaller than previous demonstrations as protests took place for a 14th consecutive day. Some roads were blocked in the capital and in the northeastern city of Cali, but many businesses remained open. Around 250,000 people took part in the first demonstration against Duque's 15-month-old government on November 21, when the initial general strike brought the country to a standstill. Watch: Talks between Colombia strike committee, government end in deadlock "The Colombian people have woken up!" shouted Paola Jiminez, a 41-year-old lawyer taking part in a pot-banging "cacerolazo" demonstration in Bogota. "Colombians are finding it more and more difficult financially," she said. A student taking part in one of several peaceful protests in Bogota, who gave his name as Nicolas, held up a banner saying: "The state lies more than my ex." Police were deployed in nearby streets, but there were no confrontations of the kind that have marred some protests over the last two weeks, during which four people died. Some 500 have been injured. On Tuesday, the Colombian National Strike Committee, comprising unions, students and teacher organisations, indigenous groups and the opposition, met directly with Duque's advisors for the first time but reached no agreement. Another meeting was scheduled for Thursday. Under fire for his economic policies and corruption in the country, Duque launched a national dialogue with mayors and other officials 10 days ago. The strike committee has presented Duque with a list of 13 demands, including the withdrawal of his proposed tax reforms, and full compliance with the 2016 peace deal with FARC guerrillas. Among them is a call to dismantle the feared ESMAD riot police, widely criticised for its heavy-handed response to protesters. Duque has yielded to some of the demands on tax reform, announcing the return of Value Added Tax to the poorest 20 per cent of the population and benefits for companies that hire young people

Colombia: Third general strike keeps pressure on Duque

A vehicle of crusher plant was set ablaze by agitated farmers in Uttar Pradesh's Unnao on Sunday after the administration refused to grant them compensation for the land acquired by the Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Authority (UPSIDA) for the ambitious Trans-Ganga City. 
 
"Some miscreants are doing this. We will go to villages and appeal to people to maintain peace. This is a deed of miscreants. We'll maintain peace and the work (Trans Ganga City project) will also go on," said Devendra Pandey, District Magistrate (DM) while speaking to media. 
 
Notably, a pipe, kept in front of a power substation in Unnao, was also allegedly set ablaze by farmers in the morning to mark their protest. 
 
The protesting farmers claim that their land was acquired by the Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Authority (UPSIDA) a few years back without any holding discussions with them and no compensation has been deposited in their bank accounts yet. 
 
"We have been promised that we will get compensation. We have held several meetings with the police and officials but nothing has been done so far in the matter," said a farmer. 
 
However, the official denied such claims said that each farmer has been given compensation to them in the past. Trans-Ganga City is being constructed for this development only. The situation is normal here," said an official from UPSIDA while speaking to ANI. 
 
On Saturday, scores of farmers pelted stones at the JCB machine which was deployed to carry out work for the high-tech trans-Ganga city, claiming that they have not received compensation for their land acquired by the UPSIDA&nbsp;in 2012. 
 
Trans Ganga City is the planned satellite township in the Indian province of Uttar Pradesh in the Unnao district which comes under the Kanpur metropolitan area. 
 
The area comprises the stretch from the limits of the Unnao Municipality to the Ganga river near Kanpur on NH 25 and Unnao-Shuklaganj Highway. 
 
The Uttar Pradesh government has also proposed a Skill Development University near the proposed Hi-tech city.

A vehicle of crusher plant was set ablaze by agitated farmers in Uttar Pradesh's Unnao on Sunday after the administration refused to grant them compensation for the land acquired by the Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Authority (UPSIDA) for the ambitious Trans-Ganga City.

A vehicle of crusher plant was set ablaze by agitated farmers in Uttar Pradesh's Unnao on Sunday after the administration refused to grant them compensation for the land acquired by the Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Authority (UPSIDA) for the ambitious Trans-Ganga City. "Some miscreants are doing this. We will go to villages and appeal to people to maintain peace. This is a deed of miscreants. We'll maintain peace and the work (Trans Ganga City project) will also go on," said Devendra Pandey, District Magistrate (DM) while speaking to media. Notably, a pipe, kept in front of a power substation in Unnao, was also allegedly set ablaze by farmers in the morning to mark their protest. The protesting farmers claim that their land was acquired by the Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Authority (UPSIDA) a few years back without any holding discussions with them and no compensation has been deposited in their bank accounts yet. "We have been promised that we will get compensation. We have held several meetings with the police and officials but nothing has been done so far in the matter," said a farmer. However, the official denied such claims said that each farmer has been given compensation to them in the past. Trans-Ganga City is being constructed for this development only. The situation is normal here," said an official from UPSIDA while speaking to ANI. On Saturday, scores of farmers pelted stones at the JCB machine which was deployed to carry out work for the high-tech trans-Ganga city, claiming that they have not received compensation for their land acquired by the UPSIDA in 2012. Trans Ganga City is the planned satellite township in the Indian province of Uttar Pradesh in the Unnao district which comes under the Kanpur metropolitan area. The area comprises the stretch from the limits of the Unnao Municipality to the Ganga river near Kanpur on NH 25 and Unnao-Shuklaganj Highway. The Uttar Pradesh government has also proposed a Skill Development University near the proposed Hi-tech city.

Agitated farmers set vehicle ablaze to protest against Trans-Ganga project

There was massive chaos at a programme attended by India&#39;s ruling party BJP President Amit Shah in Surat, Gujarat, on Thursday. 
 
Supporters of&nbsp;Hardik Patel, the face of Patidar reservation protests, damaged&nbsp;furniture and booed&nbsp;speakers including the BJP president. They also repeatedly chanted Patel&#39;s name to demonstrate their support for him. 
 
Chaos prevailed outside the venue as well as in Mota Varraccha area&nbsp;where Patidar community members from the locality hurled stones at the police. 
 
?The function was wound up hastily within minutes, with Patel leaders cutting short their speeches while Shah spoke only for four minutes amid&nbsp;sloganeering. 
 
The event was organised by prominent Patel businessmen in Surat to felicitate BJP leaders of their community in the presence of party chief Amit Shah. 
 
BJP, which is struggling hard to regain the support of numerically strong Patidars in Gujarat after the community led by Patel launched the quota agitation, made this event a prestige issue. 
 
City-based prominent businessmen formed a group called &#39;Patidar Abhivadan Samiti&#39;&nbsp;to honour new state BJP chief Jitu Vaghani, Gujarat&#39;s deputy chief minister Nitin Patel and senior&nbsp;ministers of Patel community. 
 
&quot;This felicitation of Patidar leaders is for the community, is for the state and is for the nation,&quot; said full page advertisements given in vernacular newspapers across the state by the organisation.&nbsp; 
 
The Hardik Patel-led Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) had earlier made its intention clear that it is going to oppose the felicitation programme. But few would have guessed that things would go out of control there. 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies)

Amit Shah's speech was curtailed amid vociferous sloganeering by supporters of Hardik Patel, the leader of a reservation agitation in India

There was massive chaos at a programme attended by India's ruling party BJP President Amit Shah in Surat, Gujarat, on Thursday. Supporters of Hardik Patel, the face of Patidar reservation protests, damaged furniture and booed speakers including the BJP president. They also repeatedly chanted Patel's name to demonstrate their support for him. Chaos prevailed outside the venue as well as in Mota Varraccha area where Patidar community members from the locality hurled stones at the police. ?The function was wound up hastily within minutes, with Patel leaders cutting short their speeches while Shah spoke only for four minutes amid sloganeering. The event was organised by prominent Patel businessmen in Surat to felicitate BJP leaders of their community in the presence of party chief Amit Shah. BJP, which is struggling hard to regain the support of numerically strong Patidars in Gujarat after the community led by Patel launched the quota agitation, made this event a prestige issue. City-based prominent businessmen formed a group called 'Patidar Abhivadan Samiti' to honour new state BJP chief Jitu Vaghani, Gujarat's deputy chief minister Nitin Patel and senior ministers of Patel community. "This felicitation of Patidar leaders is for the community, is for the state and is for the nation," said full page advertisements given in vernacular newspapers across the state by the organisation. The Hardik Patel-led Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) had earlier made its intention clear that it is going to oppose the felicitation programme. But few would have guessed that things would go out of control there. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Vandalism, boos mar event attended by India's ruling party president

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