Ramdev news: NHRC issues notice to Centre, Delhi government against crackdown

NEW DELHI: The National Human Rights Commission on Monday issued notices to the Central and Delhi governments seeking reports within two weeks on the midnight crackdown on Baba Ramdev's supporters at Ramlila ground here.

According to the rights panel, it has issued notices to the Union Home Secretary, Delhi Chief Secretary and the city Commissioner of Police calling for reports.

Over 60 people, mostly supporters of Baba Ramdev, were injured in a police operation to evict them from the ground where the yoga guru was holding a hunger-strike against corruption and black money.

Baba Ramdev yesterday alleged that the police indulged in "barbarism and atrocities" on his supporters and even women and children were not spared. Terming the police action as the the "biggest crime against humanity," he had said he will move the NHRC with a complaint.

Baba Ramdev thanked the Supreme Court for issuing notice to the government on the forceful eviction of thousands of his supporters from Delhi's Ramlila ground.

"The cognisance taken by Supreme Court on its own against this injustice, we thank (it) from our hearts. The entire country is grateful," Ramdev told reporters here.

Taking suomoto cognizance of Baba's eviction by the government, the apex court gave the government two-weeks to respond.

Attacking Baba Ramdev, Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today said he "betrayed" the government by not keeping his promise to end the agitation and accused the BJP of "fishing in troubled waters" on the issue.

During an interaction with women journalists at the Indian Women's Press Corps here, he also put the onus of "timing" of the midnight crackdown on Ramdev's supporters at Ramlila ground on law enforcement authorities.

"On his (Ramdev's) part there was a betrayal," the Health Minister and senior Congress leader said, when asked if the government has made an error of judgement by releasing the agreement letter given on behalf of Ramdev, which prompted him to level allegations of cheating against senior ministers.

Meanwhile, social reformer Anna Hazare and other civil society members boycotted the Lokpal bill drafting panel meeting, saying the police crackdown on Baba Ramdev had "strengthened the doubts" about the government's intentions to have a strong anti-corruption body. They also sought permission for a protest on Wednesday.