Democracy is about the ability to expressing dissenting opinions. Yet, the government of the largest democracy, yet again, beats up non-violent dissenters seeking to present their opinions to the planning commission. Ask the government to respect democratic processes.

As you already know that 62 activists of Action 2007 have been arrested on 22nd March 2007, 2 pm at the Planning Commission Office. The group including activist Medha Patkar were having a symbolic protest against the privatisation and appropriation of water resources (by large dams, coke and pepsi bottling plants and other unsustainable forms of development)  leading to deprivation and water scarcity faced by a large population in the country on World Water Day.

The police and Rapid Action Force did not allow the activists to take an appointment with the Deputy Chair of Planning Commission and arrested the activists while waiting in the compound of the Yojana Bhavan (Planning Commission office). While arresting, unnecessary force was used and many of the activists were manhandled and many
women activists were manhandled/attacked by men police. In spite of the fact that this was a non-violent protest, Rapid Action Force was deployed to arrest the activists, and they used such excessive force, tearing clothes of some of the women activists.

The activists were then taken to the Parliament Street Police station and were asked to sign blank arrest memos. There were procedural delays and only after 9 pm were they presented to the judicial magistrate who was called to the police station itself.

The magistrate has remanded all of them to judicial custody for 15 days until April 5^th. This is completely disproportionate and excessive police and legal action against peaceful protestors who went to have a dialogue with the Planning Commission members on World Water Day!

The authorities have explicitly stated that they “want to teach the protestors a lesson.” These arrests were not about violations of the law; rather they are a coordinated and concerted attempt to prevent the democratic protest of anti-people policies and an effort to discourage others who dare to raise their voice. The action has been ostensibly blacklisted by the media as no coverage has taken place. The protestors were arrested in the early afternoon.

Though the formalities dragged on late into the night, only 2 women (out of 27) and the men were presented before the magistrate. It was announced that they would be transferred to Tihar Jail, only to later find out that the women were taken to Chanakyapuri Police station while the men were kept at Parliament Street police Station. They were finally transferred to Tihar only this morning, 23 March 2007 at 11 am. Old charges against Medha and other have resurrected. There is no information regarding their release. We have been given every indication that the powers that be want to stop the Jan Sansad at Jantar Mantar.

When non-violent, democratic processes are being curbed by government through excessive use of force, what form of democracy does it hope to inculcate? Irrespective of your position or mine, democracy demands that all voices should be heard and that non-violent dissent should be allowed, even encouraged. We need to stand by the rights of all citizens to present dissenting opinions. All citizens should write to or call the government and ask for explanations.

Shivraj Patil, Home Minister: Phone: 23092462, 23094686 (O) 23017256, 23017580 (P) 23794842, 23793716 (R) Fax: 23094221 (O) 23794833 (R)

Shriprakash Jaiswal, Minster of State for Home: Phone: 23092073, 23092353 (O) 23386124, 23070643 (R) Fax: 23092073

·         Is this the response to citizens who sought a meeting with the Planning Commission Deputy Chairman? The action was totally unwarranted and excessive use of force.

·         Poor people and activists have come from several states around the country in Action 2007 to draw the attention of the government in a peaceful manner. Ministers and Secretaries were invited for each session of the Jan Sansad (People's Parliament), but none of them showed up except one. When the protestors themselves go to the government building to meet the officials, they put the police in front and jail the people. If the government doesn't even give a hearing let alone meet their demands, then what message does this send out to people about the efficacy of peaceful protests? Do they want to turn every place into a Nandigram??

·         The police didn't allow them to even go inside the building to request an appointment with the Planning Commission

·         They were arrested at 2:15 pm, but the FIR (First Information Report) says that they were arrested at 3:30 pm, thus claiming that they were on the premises for longer than they actually were.

·         The arrest memo signed by the people mentioned only Section 188, but the actual FIR has listed other sections and copies of the FIR were not handed to the people arrested, as per law.

·         Mr. Lokhande, an elderly gentleman, who went to visit the arrested at the police station was also booked by the police.

·         25 women were not even presented in front of the magistrate.

·         People who were standing at the gate and on the roadside, and had not entered the premises were also arrested.

·         The attitude and language of the police explicitly showed that they wanted to give the people a lesson and show that the police is ready to use force to crush all protests

·         All those remanded should be released immediately and the cases against them withdrawn

·         There should be enquiry into the excessive police action against peaceful protestors, including manhandling of women and a woman's hand getting jammed in the gate

Action should be taken against the police S.H.O. (Station House Officer) who manhandled the protestors, as well as issued threats and used outrageous and abusive language with the protestors including women