Udaipur, September (Udaipur Kiran News) — The call by the Mewar-Wagad High Court Bench Struggle Committee and Bar Association Udaipur to show black flags during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally in Banswara on Saturday led to massive security deployment and widespread lawyer protests across southern Rajasthan.

Heavy Police Deployment, Lawyers Stopped En Route

More than 5,000 lawyers from across the division had announced plans to march towards Banswara’s Chhoti Sarwan, demanding a High Court bench in Mewar-Wagad. Anticipating protests, police turned the entire route into a security zone and stopped lawyer convoys before they could reach the rally venue.

At Sewina toll plaza, senior police officers, including City SP Umesh Ojha and DySP Chhagan Purohit, halted lawyer vehicles. When lawyers insisted on proceeding, many were detained and taken away in buses.

Sit-In Protests and Sloganeering

Angered by the blockade, the lawyers staged a dharna at the toll plaza, raising slogans against the state government, local representatives, and district administration. They also obstructed bus routes for nearly an hour. Even after police tried to negotiate, lawyers refused to disperse, forcing authorities to carry out detentions.

Former Bar Presidents Bharat Vaishnav and Rakesh Mogra reportedly resisted strongly, leading to mild force being used. Inside police buses, detained lawyers continued to chant slogans demanding a High Court bench and criticising state leaders.

Public Support Along the Route

The convoy of lawyers, carrying banners with slogans like “High Court bench is our right”, received support from local traders and residents along the way, who expressed disappointment at the lack of political will from Udaipur leaders.

Arrests in Aspur, Protests in Udaipur

Some leaders, including Bar President Chandrabhan Singh Shaktawat, Vice President Devilal Jat, General Secretary Mahaveer Sharma, and Anjuman President Mustafa Khan, evaded initial police blockades but were later arrested near Aspur while attempting to block buses heading to Banswara.

Meanwhile in Udaipur, Bar Secretary Abhishek Kothari and other members held sit-ins and a complete boycott of court work, echoing the same demand. Reports of similar protests came from other district headquarters in the division.

The agitation, coordinated by Struggle Committee Convener Ramesh Nandwana, highlighted growing anger among advocates after repeated denials of an audience with the Prime Minister during his visit.