Was he some terrorist that he had to be picked up amid such high drama and urgency?" Justice Santhosh Hegde, member of the Lokpal Bill drafting committee, said about the Baba Ramdev arrest.
"It has brought back memories of the horrific Emergency which was imposed in June 1975. Not only is this a clear case of violation of Fundamental Rights, but it appears to be exactly like the situation that prevailed during Emergency," he said.
"What was the hurry? Was this some Emergency situation where terrorists were slipping out? The government has a lot to answer for this (the arrest)," he added.
"Was it necessary to treat the protestors that way? They were protesting peacefully. They were beaten up, and the brutality which I witnessed has pained me no end. I don't think anyone has the right to disturb a peaceful agitation," he thundered.
"It is the Fundamental Right of every citizen to gather peacefully to demonstrate, and until Saturday, nothing untoward had happened which gave room for any suspicion that there may be a law and order problem. This looks like a case where the government wants to curb the people's voice," he said.
"When a democratically elected government resorts to such action, then the situation is very bleak. Just because negotiations failed, they didn't have to resort to violence. We want an answer from the government as to what ignited the situation, and shall not rest until we get answers. I feel for those various people who came all the way from different parts to support the movement," he added.
"Ramdev had permission to use the Ramleela ground and the government was aware what was going on there. The use of force is to be condemned since the demonstration was vocal and never physical," he said.
