New Delhi: Janhastakshep, a people's intervention group, today condemned the arrest of former AAP leader Yogendra Yadav and 85 others while they were protesting on farmers' issues at Jantar Mantar here, and demanded strict action against police officials responsible for such "high-handedness."
"The leader of the Swaraj Abhiyan was well within his right to stage a peaceful dharna in support of the demands of peasants along with his other colleagues, especially as they had followed due process of law to stage their protest.
The high-handedness of the action is evident by the manhandling of Yadav and the fact that the police did not even allow anyone to meet Yadav and his supporters while in custody," Professor Ish Mishra (Convener) of Janhastakshep said.
The Delhi High Court itself has reprimanded the Delhi police while adjudicating the habeas corpus petition filed by another leader of Swaraj Abhiyan, Prashant Bhushan, Mishra said.
The attack on Swaraj Abhiyan is ought to be seen in the context of increasing attacks by the ruling classes on the democratic rights of the people throughout the country, especially since the NDA government has come in power at the Center, Janhastakshep said in a statement.
Unable to address the rising problems of different sections of the population, the rulers are bent upon crushing all voices of dissent, the statement added.
The voluntary organisation also called upon the people to defeat the designs of different sections of the ruling classes by building militant struggles on their genuine demands through the length and breadth of the country.
Yogendra Yadav and 85 others, protesting on farmers' issues, were arrested yesterday at Jantar Mantar after which the activist accused Delhi Police of manhandling and threatening to kill him, charges denied by the police.
