A BJP legislator along with veteran Gandhians and hundreds of farmers from Mahuva taluka in Bhavnagar district were detained on Thusrday from near Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad ahead of a rally organised to protest the cement plant coming up in Mahuva.

Farmers of Mahuva taluka led by BJP MLA Kanu Kalsariya had organised a march from the Sabarmati Ashram to Gandhinagar to protest against Nirma Group's cement plant coming up in their area contending that the industry would destroy their livelihood and agriculture land.

Kalsariya, along with veteran Gandhian Chunibhai Vaidya, Prakash Shah and ex-MLA Sanath Mehta were taken into custody as they began their march towards Gandhinagar.

Hundreds of farmers who had arrived from Mahuva to take part in the rally were also picked up from the entrance of the Ashram from where Mahatma Gandhi began his freedom movement.

"This is an attempt by the state to suppress the voice of truth. One has every right to express his voice in a democracy, but this is death of democracy," Kalsariya said.

"We were going to hold a peaceful march from Gandhi Ashram to Gandhinagar, but police denied us permission saying there was a cricket match in the city. But the match is after two days," he alleged.