The People's Union for Civil Liberties has condemned the Centre's threat to arrest Maoist sympathizers if they criticize the home ministry's policy in the issue.
"The threat to use Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (which itself is a shame for any democratic government to have enacted) is a gross attack on the fundamental right of free speech guaranteed by the constitution," PUCL said in a statement.
"PUCL fully reaffirms its and of other human Right organisation's right to criticize unrestrainedly the wrong policies of the Home Department. These threats given in the Press can only bring shame to our democracy and is a crude and unsuccessful attempt to curb the fundamental Right of speech. We want the ministry to withdraw this obnoxious circular and offer a public apology for its threat to public," it said.
"The home ministry advisory is a blatant act of intimidation and it goes against the basic tenets of democracy and our constitutional values. PUCL strongly condemns it and demands that it should be withdrawn with immediate effect," the note added.