By TCN Special Correspondent,
New Delhi:Despite having serious difference with anti-corruption campaign led by Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev, Human Rights organizations have condemned the crackdown on people agitating at Ram Lila ground, Delhi. Secretaries of the People’s Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR), Parmajeet Singh, Harish Dhawan has strongly condemns the midnight crackdown on thousands of people staging a ‘Satyagraha’ and hunger strike.
“The attack on the protesters was absolutely unwarranted as the ‘satyagraha’ was neither causing any law & order problems nor was it disrupting the peace of the city in any manner,” says a press statement issued by PUDR. “Such an assault would not have taken place without consent at the highest levels of government. This deplorable attack is yet another instance of how the government has scant regard for basic democratic rights and values,” the statement says.
Meanwhile, Delhi chapter of the People’s Union of Civil Liberties (PUCL) has also condemned the midnight attack on the agitators. “Though we do not share the political, social and economic vision of Swami Ram Dev and consider various pronouncements made by him and methods used in carrying out his movement as highly objectionable and ill-advised, yet we feel that government’s blatant action in dealing with his protest is excessive, atrocious and unjustified,” said Advocate N D Pancholi, President PUCL Delhi.
Last midnight, after 1 am Delhi Police along with Rapid Action Forces (RAF) swoop down on the protest site, catching Ramdev and his supporters. Security forces resorted to lathicharge and firing of tear gas shells, creating commotion and chaos. Around thirty people have been injured in the crackdown and admitted in the LNJP hospital, Delhi.