Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad detained in hotel 

Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad tweeted on Friday, December 28, that he had been detained at a hotel by the Mumbai Police in the city’s Malad area. He was earlier arrested from Chaityabhoomi, a memorial site to BR Ambedkar. Ambedkar was cremated there on December 6, 1956. The site is an important pilgrimage centre for Ambedkarites and Buddhists.

He was in the city to address a rally at Jambori Maidan in Worli on Saturday, December 29. but the police had denied permission for the same. The police said permission was denied as they had information that the rally could present a law and order problem.

Azad said that he was detained and was not allowed to leave the hotel room because he declared that the rally would still be held.

According to Bhim Army, they had received permission to hold the rally from the PWD department as the land belongs to the latter. The state president of Bhim Army said that they had paid the requisite fees to the PWD department. However, when they approached the police for permission, it was denied, he further added.

A video was posted on Bhim Army’s official Facebook page in which Chandrashekar Azad is seen talking about his detention. He states in the video that some of the people who were arrested with him are still to be released. He says that he will be undeterred by these incidents.

He shared clips of police personnel near the hotel on Twitter. He also posted a video of him waving to his supporters from his hotel room.

This comes days ahead of the first anniversary of the Koregaon-Bhima caste violence incident. The Maharashtra administration has ordered the Pune Police to be on alert to ward off any acts of violence.

The Uttar Pradesh government had ordered the release of Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar alias Ravan, from jail on September 13 this year. He was jailed under NSA charges in connection with the 2017 Saharanpur caste violence case.

On New Year’s Day each year, lakhs of Ambedkarites from across the state visit the village near Pune to commemorate a 19th century British victory over the Brahmin Peshwa-ruled Maratha Empire. However, the last time witnessed violence. Most videos showed people with saffron flags and clothes attacking those with Ambedkarite blue flags.