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`SC verdict on Ramlila protest must be reviewed`
Advani indicated that SC verdict on Ramlila crackdown may be reconsidered on the issue of protesters being denied permission to peacefully agitate.
"The judgement of the Supreme Court lays down a landmark law in as much as it upholds the right to protest as a fundamental right of speech and to assemble.
"However, it shakes the foundation of the fundamental
right by laying down a highly doubtful proposition that once
the right to protest is denied, the protester must meekly
accept the denial or run the risk of contributory negligence
to the police oppression," he said quoting his party colleague
Arun Jaitely in his latest blog.
Jaitley had last week released to the media a
perceptive analysis of the court`s judgement while
complimenting the judges for upholding the citizens` right to
protest peacefully against any government decision they
disagrees with.
Advani said Jaitley was of the view that the latter
part of the court`s decision on the issue of denial of
permission to protesters should be extensively debated and
possibly reconsidered.
The Supreme Court had taken suo motu cognisance of media
reports showing brutality of police action against the
sleeping followers of Ramdev at Ramlila Maidan on the midnight
of June 4-5 last year during his anti-corruption agitation.
Ramdev had alleged that the police action was carried out on the instructions of their political masters and demanded action against all people who had directed the crackdown.
Ramdev was agitating along with his followers against
corruption.
The Delhi Police, however, had claimed that Ramdev had
instigated his followers to indulge in violence, forcing the
police to act at that time of the night.
PTI