NEW DELHI -- Former Aam Aadmi Party leader Yogendra Yadav has claimed that he was "beaten and manhandled" by the Delhi police after being detained for organising a "Hal Satyagraha" at Jantar Mantar to highlight the persisting problem of
farmer suicides in the country.
Yadav along with at least 80 other protestors were formally arrested on Tuesday morning. The Delhi police said that permission for the protest was granted only till August 10, Times Now reported.
The 51-year-old political science professor, who spent the night at the Parliament Street police station, tweeted a photo of himself with a torn shirt. He will be produced at the Patiala District Court, ANI reported.
I have been beaten up, manhandled, dragged, pushed and arrested at the parliament street police station. pic.twitter.com/kbJgT9rSuh
β Yogendra Yadav (@_YogendraYadav) August 10, 2015
I have been dragged, hit and pushed into a police van. Don't still know my crime.
β Yogendra Yadav (@_YogendraYadav) August 10, 2015
Lawyer Prashant Bhushan tweeted at 4:25 am that his client had been "illegally detained" for four hours.
Illegally detained for 4 hours, police not even allowing YY to meet me as his lawyer, in violation of SC orders which mandates legal access
β Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) August 10, 2015
Earlier this year, senior AAP leaders accused both activists of attempting to sabotage the Delhi elections before kicking them out of the party. But today morning Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is also locked in a power struggle with the central government, which controls the Delhi police, tweeted in support of his former colleagues.
I strongly condemn the treatment metted out to Yogendraji by Delhi police. They were protesting peacefully. It is their fundamental right.
β Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) August 11, 2015
After they were isolated from AAP, Bhushan and Yadav founded the 'Swaraj Abhiyan' movement to deal with issues like corruption and land rights.
Yadav said that he rushed to Jantar Mantar after he learning that the police were cracking down against the "peaceful satyagraha." The protestors had made a symbolic "Hal" (plough), which they wanted to take to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence on 7 Race Course Road.
Reports of mid night Police action against our peaceful satyagraha at jantar mantar. Rushing there.
β Yogendra Yadav (@_YogendraYadav) August 10, 2015
On Tuesday, Yadav questioned why he had been detained by the Delhi police.
Is standing peacefully with a Hal an offence? We were not obstructing traffic, were willing to cooperate with any reasonable condition.
β Yogendra Yadav (@_YogendraYadav) August 10, 2015
Why this brutal assault then?
β Yogendra Yadav (@_YogendraYadav) August 10, 2015
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