Mumbai Police detains Chandrashekhar Azad, bans his rallies in city

Mumbai: The Mumbai Police has imposed a ban on any gathering by supporters of Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad, who is in the city. His gatherings in Mumbai have been cancelled. Commenting on the decision, the Nationalist Congress party leader and legislator Jitendra Awhad, who met Chandrashekhar, said that the government cannot muzzle the voice of opposition. He said that it was a murder of democracy.

The city police has imposed a ban on gatherings within 500 meters radius from a hotel in Malad where Mr Chandrashekhar is staying. He was placed under preventive detention on Friday. The Bhim Army chief was supposed to address a party meeting in Worli on Saturday. But he was denied permission by the Mumbai Police and was directed to go back to Uttar Pradesh, a source said. Mr. Chandrashekhar has condemned the police decision preventing him from addressing a gathering.   

He said, “I don’t have any information as to why I have been arrested. Since last night, I have been taken five to six police stations and later the police kept me in this hotel and also deployed six police personnel outside my room. Those who are with me are also not allowed to get out of their rooms.”

The Bhim Army chief also alleged that this is an undeclared emergency and that the Constitution is not being followed in Maharashtra. The road has been blocked. “It seems like that Maharashtra is not a part of the country as it is being run by a different government.

“In a democratic country, citizens have been given some constitutional rights, which are being violated. The Bhim Army works for the protection of the Constitution,” he said. “If any unfortunate things happen in hotel or with Bhim army people, the state and centre government would be held only responsible,” he added.  

Meanwhile, Mr. Awhad said that Mr Azad should be released as the timing of his gathering has passed. “He should be allowed to go wherever he wants to go. He is not a terrorist. Not a single non-cognisable (NC) has not been registered against him in Maharashtra. Now the question is, under which Act has he been detained. This is a violation of the Constitution of the country. His constitutional rights have been taken away from him.”

Bhim Army stalled in Pune
The Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad’s programmes scheduled to be held in Pune on December 30 and 31 are also in limbo as the college where his sabha was to be held has denied permission at the last minute. Pune University, where the second programme was to be held, has also not granted permission for the event. However, Datta Pol, the Bhim Army’s Pune chief said that the programmes will be held as planned.

The Bhim Army was scheduled to hold sabhas at SSPMS ground on December 30 and an interaction with Pune University students on December 31.

Shivaji Bodakhe, joint police commissioner, Pune city said, “The SSPMS college, where the programme was to be held, has not given permission for the event. Only if they have permission to hold the event from the college can they apply to us to for permission. But we have not received any application so far.”

The Savitribai Phule Pune University has also refused permission for Azad’s programme. The students then decided to hold his interaction at one of the varsity canteens. But even that was cancelled following a discussion with police officials.

Azad was also scheduled to shower flowers on the victory pillar at Bhima-Koregoan, according to the Bhim Army. But on Saturday, Vishwas Nangre Patil, IG, Kolhapur Range said, “We have not received any such application. Once we get it, we will decide about it.” He also said that action will be taken against all people having a history of causing problems like communal tensions. But he did not take any names.