PIL in SC to seek answers on Baba Ramdev crackdown

New Delhi, Jun 6: The Saturday night crackdown on Baba Ramdev and his supporters at the Ram Lila grounds have irked the public and various political representatives to the hilt.

Taking the matter to heart, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed by advocate Ajay Agarwal seeking a directive from the Centre and the Delhi Police towards issuing a White Paper on the rampage by the police in the 'Baba Ramdev eviction incident' on the night of June 4 and 5.

He has also sought details of what transpired between Ramdev and the government including details of talks, negotiations and the so-called 'deal' between the Union government and Ramdev.

Calling the government's act a gross violation of fundamental rights, the petition said, “This crackdown on yoga guru Baba Ramdev's anti-graft fast is a shameful chapter in the history of Indian democracy. It was a barbaric act by the police against citizens who were protesting peacefully against corruption and black money."

It added that the police action was not the result of any provocation and there was no room for the emergence of a law and order problem. The fact that the Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee along with three other Cabinet ranking ministers met with Baba in secret talks at the Claridges hotel also finds mention in the petition.

The PIL stated that the public has all the right to know of what transpired behind closed doors with Ajay Agarwal seeking a direction that the talks be produced by the respondents that includes Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Home Minister P. Chidambaram and Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal.

OneIndia News