Jaipur, Oct 5 (IANS): The Rajasthan BJP on Monday staged a 'Halla Bol' campaign in all district headquarters protesting against the rising incidents of crime and rape in the state and submitted a memorandum to district collectors addressed to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, in all 33 districts of the state.

On the call of BJP state president Satish Poonia, many MPs, MLAs, party officials and workers participated in the protest.

In Jaipur, thousands of party workers reached Civil lines Gate and protested near the CM's residence and raised slogans against the government.

Poonia while marching towards the CM's residence was stopped by police and later was arrested. Protesters were seen lying on Poonia's vehicle to prevent his arrest. Later, police took Poonia to Ashok Nagar police station.

There were minor clashes between police and protesters as they were seen flouting norms of Section 144 clamped in the city in wake of rising cases of COVID-19.

Speaking to the media, Poonia said that the Gehlot government has lost all sensitivity towards the rising crimes against women. The Ashok Gehlot government of the Congress seems to be sleeping in Rajasthan as Rajasthan was once was a peaceful state and today it has become one of the most crime-prone states, he said.

In last 20 months, a total of 4.35 lakh cases have been registered in the state and 11,200 cases comprise murders, attempt to murder, rape, molestation etc. Rape cases have witnessed 33 per cent rise while Dalit atrocities have gone up by 14.8 per cent in the state, he claimed.

Gehlot is also the home minister of the state however he remains quiet on all such cases, alleged Poonia.

Those who led the protests in different cities of Rajasthan included MP Ramcharan Bohra, Mahant Bala Balaknath, Raghav Sharma, Ramlal Sharma and others.