During a hearing of Bhim Army chief Chandra Shekhar Azad’s bail application, the Tis Hazari court, while slamming the Delhi police, asked what is wrong in protesting and if Jama Masjid is in Pakistan people can go there and protest.
Azad was arrested Daryaganj police on December 21st, 2019 for allegedly inciting violence during anti-CAA protests, witnessed some crucial observations. It may be mentioned that Azad announced in Twitter that he was surrendering before police in an exchange of release of the detainees who were detained by police on December 20th, 2019, night following an outbreak of violence in Daryaganj.
The Public Prosecutor opposed the bail application saying that Azad had incited violence through his social media posts.
Later, the Judge Kamini Lau asked the persecutor as quoted by Live Law, “What is wrong with dharna? What is wrong with protesting? It is one’s constitutional right to protest.” While observing that there was nothing violent about the socials media posts, the judge further asked, “Where is the violence? What is wrong with any of these posts? Who says you cannot protest? Have you read the constitution?”
Besides, the judge told the Prosecutor that he was behaving as if Jama Masjid is in Pakistan. “Even if it is in Pakistan, you can go there and protest. Pakistan was a part of undivided India. What permission? SC has said repeated use of 144 is abuse”, she added.
Later the judge adjourned the hearing till 2 PM on January 15th, 2020, at the request of the Prosecutor for time to produce the other FIRs which are stated to have been registered against Azad by UP Police.
It may be mentioned that the judge had slammed Tihar jail last week for failing to provide medical assistance to Azad at AIIMS and directed to provide him treatment at AIIMS for his special medical condition.
Photo credit: @BhimArmyOfficial
