Reputed economist and activist Jean Dreze was detained along with two others in Jharkhand on Thursday, 28 March.
The three were detained over permission for a meeting on Right to Food, but were released after four hours, according to reports.
The incident took place in Jharkhand's Garhwa, with the two other activists identified as Vivek Kumar and Anuj Kumar.
“We had applied on 22 March to Pradeep Kumar, SDO, Garhwa District, for permission. Later, they had asked us to provide details such as the Aadhaar card of the head organiser. We had furnished all that was asked for but were never intimated anything.”Vivek Kumar to News18
After the detainment, the economist had reportedly said, "We want permission to hold the meeting today itself. Even evening. A big meeting was held in the same village last night without permission." However, the superintendent of police has asked to apply for the meeting for another day, he added.
Several people took to Twitter to condemn the incident.
Shocking beyond words!
March 28, 2019
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/KagTeBhFV8Shocking to know that economists like Jean Dreze are a threat to the nation and need to be arrested. I hope sanity prevails soon and he and others are released. He was only busy organizing a meeting on right to food. How can fight against hunger be a crime?
March 28, 2019Renowned 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
March 28, 2019Absolutely shocking to know that noted economist #JeanDreze & two other #Right2Food activists have been arrested in Garhwa today for a people's meeting on #Right2Food . People of #Jharkhand will pay back @BJP4Jharkhand & @dasraghubar 'jis blatant attempts to suppress democracy. https://t.co/dmFp4rUVbi
March 28, 2019Dreze has been well-known for his work in the areas of hunger, gender inequality, child health and education. He had also been one of the primary forces behind the conceptualisation of NREGA.
(With inputs from News18)
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