Amid section 144, BJP allowed to stage dharna

Rajan Bhagat, public relations officer, Delhi police, has clarified that there is no ban on the Bharatiya Janata party leadership for staging a dharna at Rajghat.

"This is because Rajghat has not been placed under section 144, as it would have caused difficulties for those who visit Delhi on Sunday and want to pay homage to the father of the nation," he said.

However, BJP leaders would not be allowed to proceed from party headquarters on Ashok Road to Rajghat. "We have imposed Section 144 in the Kamla Market subdivision of the Central district and whole of New Delhi district. The BJP leaders will not be allowed to proceed from Ashok Road," he said. 

The party top brass would meet at the party headquarters at five in the evening to chalk out their next course of action in wake of Baba Ramdev's arrest from Ramlila ground on Sunday.

Sushma Swaraj, leader of opposition who visited the injured at the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narain Hospital said that four persons were battling for their lives.

"Rajbala's spinal cord has been broken and she cannot move her limbs. Two other satyagrahis have broken collarbones and are in the intensive care unit. In all, 69 persons where hurt," she told mediapersons at a press conference

"Thirty five are under treatment in Delhi and the others have been discharged. If we had been in power we would have given five hours to vacate the place and served a detention order to Baba Ramdev," she added.

BJP leader Arun Jaitley said that the party condemns the brutal action of the Central government.

"This is a shameful chapter in the history of Indian democracy. Those who were sitting for the dharna were not agitating against the government. But this government takes no action against people like Sayed Ali Shah Gilani who make seditious speeches, but unlashes brutal attack on peaceful agitators," he said.

Jaitley attacked Digvijay Singh, Congress general secretary for referring to Ramdev as a 'thug'.

"Osama bin laden is called Osamaji and Baba Ramdev is dubbed as a thug. He is lowering the level of Indian politics by using such language," he said.