Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad is in Mumbai to address a rally at Jambori Maidan in Worli which was originally planned for December 29. The police not only denied them permission to hold the rally but also the Azad has alleged that he is held captive at a hotel in Mumbai.
Mumbai Police served notice on the morning of December 28, issuing prohibitory orders preventing a gathering of five or more people at the location.
The police also denied permission for the rally which was scheduled to take place at Jambori Maidan in Worli, referring to a potential law and order problem based on confidential information obtained by them. The notice issued in Marathi by Worli Police Station.
On the notice, Ravan said, “I came here to Mumbai for the first time to pay respects to Baba Saheb Ambedkar, but now I’m being held captive… and under what law? What are the charges against me? This is completely unconstitutional!”
There was a heavy police presence outside the hotel. The cops can be seen door keeping Bhim Army members back into the hotel and not letting them leave. However, there was no official order preventing Azad from leaving the hotel premises or speaking to the media.
Rajesh Pradhan, Additional Commissioner of Police (North region said, “There is no such thing. We are not detaining anyone. We have placed cars outside his hotel since morning but we are not holding him captive. Anyway, he has been denied permission for holding his rally”, according to a report by Sabrang India.
Grandson of Dr. BR Ambedkar, national leader of the Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh sharply condemned the incident from Shegaon Maharashtra where he was addressing a rally.
The CPI(M) demanded an immediate end to this unjust and arbitrary actions of the BJP governments.
“The BJP-led governments at the centre and in the state are attacking democratic rights and are targeting Dalit and human rights activists on the Bhima Koregaon issue with a vengeance, while letting Manohar Bhide and Milind Ekbote, the ring-leaders of the attacks on Dalits there, scot-free”, said Dr Ashok Dhawale, Member Central Committee (CPI-M).
