India: AIAWU condemns arrest of well known economist Jean Dreze

 Jean Dreze

New Delhi, March 28; GANASHAKTI: The All India Agricultural Workers Union condemns the detention of the well known economist Jean Dreze, who was part of the UPA National Advisory Council and two of his colleagues for holding a public meeting on the issue of Food Security some 40 kilometers at Bishnupur in Garhwa in Western Jharkhand today. He was also active in the struggle to pass the MNREG Act along with our union and other bodies committed to ensuring the right to employment for all citizens.

What is worse is that the police tried to get him and his colleagues to sign a document exonerating the local BJP MP candidate from Chatra and the Jharkhand administration for this disgraceful action, which they refused to do.

Such state terrorism is deplorable and the CEC must take account of the intimidation being practiced by the BJP administration. We call on our state units to complain to the CEC about such draconian actions being undertaken in other parts of the country as well.