CAA protest: Modi government crushes voice of intellectuals; Guha, Yadav among others detained

Modi government used all its might to crush the voice of intellectuals on a day when the country witnessed massive protests against the discriminatory Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

While noted historian Ramchandra Guha was detained in Bengaluru, activist intellectual Yogendra Yadav was detained in Delhi with his supporters.

Defying Section 144, Guha stepped outside to protest the act that seeks to deprive Muslims from the Constitutional rights. However, he was dragged away by a group of policemen while he was talking to a news channel. News agency ANI tweeted the video in which Guha can be seen pulled away by the police.

Guha termed the situation as “absolutely undemocratic”.

“The police are working under directions from Central government. We are protesting non-violently against a discriminatory act, in a disciplined way. Look here, everyone is protesting peacefully. Have you seen any violence?” he was quoted as saying by news channel NDTV before his detention.

Apart from Bengaluru, protests were held at several places in Karnataka, including Hubballi, Kalaburagi, Hassan, Mysuru and Ballary where police detained demonstrators who violated the prohibitory orders.

Chairperson and Managing Director of Biocon, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw expressed shock over the police action.

“This is shocking and reflects the total lack of understanding of fundamental freedom to express dissent - a peaceful protest should not be mishandled in this manner,” she said on Twitter.

Chief of the Swarajya Abhiyan Yogendra Yadav was detained by Delhi Police.

“I have just been detained from Lal Qila. About a thousand protesters already detained. Thousands on the way. Am told we are being taken to Bawana,” Yadav tweeted after his detention. However, he was released after some time. Yadav later appealed people to join the protest at Jantar Mantar.

Apart from Guha and Yadav, scores of intellectuals and activists have been detained by the police across the country.