Indian court asks police to justify reason for raid
Source: Agencies |
June 7, 2011, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
INDIA'S Supreme Court called on the government yesterday to justify why it sent police to end a peaceful anti-graft protest by a popular yoga guru and thousands of his followers, spelling more trouble for embattled prime minister Manmohan Singh.
Around 600 police broke up a mass hunger strike led by Baba Ramdev in New Delhi with batons and tear gas early on Sunday, detaining the guru, who is a TV star, and putting him on a plane to his home state. Dozens of followers and police were injured.
Tapping into rising voter anger about corruption as Asia's third largest economy booms, Ramdev has urged the government to pursue billions of dollars in illegal funds abroad, and launch tough anti-corruption law.
Ramdev, usually clad in a saffron-colored robe slung loosely over his bare chest, pledged to fast until his demands were met, adding to a series of planned protests announced by opposition parties and civil society groups.
The court's action suggests it has reservations about the raid. In recent months, the court has become more active in reprimanding the government, particularly over its handling of corruption accusations against its ministers.
"They are displeased over lathi (baton) charging people who were sleeping. It was a peaceful thing until the cops intervened," said D.H. Pai Panandikar, head of Indian think-tank RPG Foundation.
Ramdev's campaign was the latest embarrassment for a Congress Party-led coalition hit by graft scandals including allegations of kickbacks at the Commonwealth Games and a telecoms scam that may have cost the government up to US$39 billion in revenues.
The handling of the protest will further distract the government from working on reforms needed to modernise the economy.
Parliament's next session is due to start in July.
"Another disruptive session is inevitable and the continuation of policy paralysis in government (is) something the country can ill-afford when it is facing up to the serious macroeconomic challenges in high inflation and decelerating growth," Anil Padmanabhan, deputy managing editor of business newspaper Mint, wrote in an editorial.
The opposition Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party said yesterday it would hold nationwide peaceful protests against the crackdown.
Around 600 police broke up a mass hunger strike led by Baba Ramdev in New Delhi with batons and tear gas early on Sunday, detaining the guru, who is a TV star, and putting him on a plane to his home state. Dozens of followers and police were injured.
Tapping into rising voter anger about corruption as Asia's third largest economy booms, Ramdev has urged the government to pursue billions of dollars in illegal funds abroad, and launch tough anti-corruption law.
Ramdev, usually clad in a saffron-colored robe slung loosely over his bare chest, pledged to fast until his demands were met, adding to a series of planned protests announced by opposition parties and civil society groups.
The court's action suggests it has reservations about the raid. In recent months, the court has become more active in reprimanding the government, particularly over its handling of corruption accusations against its ministers.
"They are displeased over lathi (baton) charging people who were sleeping. It was a peaceful thing until the cops intervened," said D.H. Pai Panandikar, head of Indian think-tank RPG Foundation.
Ramdev's campaign was the latest embarrassment for a Congress Party-led coalition hit by graft scandals including allegations of kickbacks at the Commonwealth Games and a telecoms scam that may have cost the government up to US$39 billion in revenues.
The handling of the protest will further distract the government from working on reforms needed to modernise the economy.
Parliament's next session is due to start in July.
"Another disruptive session is inevitable and the continuation of policy paralysis in government (is) something the country can ill-afford when it is facing up to the serious macroeconomic challenges in high inflation and decelerating growth," Anil Padmanabhan, deputy managing editor of business newspaper Mint, wrote in an editorial.
The opposition Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party said yesterday it would hold nationwide peaceful protests against the crackdown.
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