‘Eminent’ Economist and social activist Jean Dreze was released after being detained along with two other Right to Food activists by Jharkhand Police at Garhwa district. The three were arrested for holding a meeting at a public place without permission. The three activists were taken to Vishnupura police station.
According to the Police Jean was holding a meeting without permission and he had not been arrested. Since model of conduct is in place in wake of upcoming Lok Sabha elections, one is expected to take prior permissions from local administration for public meetings.
Jean is reported to have said, “Nothing serious in the matter. If they get a call, they may allow the meeting to proceed.”
Dreze was a member of the National Advisory Council (NAC) during the UPA era. Dreze is presently an honorary professor at the Delhi School of Economics and a visiting professor at the Ranchi University. He previously taught at the London School of Economics.
Meanwhile, ‘Eminent intellectuals’ are outraged that their comrade was detained by the Police for allegedly violating a law.
Shocking beyond words!
Jean Dreze is a saint-economist, a potential Nobel awardee who lived in slums, written and done more for the poor than any economist, shunned all power and glory, took up Indian citizenship, is a pacifist.
Nothing can be more shameful than arresting him. https://t.co/KagTeBhFV8
— Yogendra Yadav (@_YogendraYadav) March 28, 2019
Renowned economist& Co-author of several books with Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen, Jean Dreze is arrested with 2 other activists in Jharkhand for organizing a meeting on Right to Food! This while goons who beat up Muslim family in Gurgaon roam free& PM tomtoms 2012 DRDO achievement! https://t.co/aCVMcQOUK9
— Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) March 28, 2019
It betrays the sentiment that most ‘intellectuals’ harbour where they feel they are above the law and believe that routine laws, which apply to every mere mortal, should not apply to them. Further, Prashant Bhushan, whose relationship with the truth is tenuous at best, appears to be unaware that the Police has arrested people who were accused of being involved in the Gurugram incident, which was not borne out of any communal reasons.
Dreze and his friends were released by the Jharkhand Police after furnishing personal bonds.
