After Bhim Army Chief, Chandrashekhar Azad Ravan joined the ongoing protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the exercise of National Register of Citizens [NRC] in New Delhi, he has been making news. He was detained and taken into the custody of Delhi Police after he managed to slip away and reach Jama Masjid to participate in the ongoing protests. On December 20, 2019, he surrendered in a rather heroic way before the Delhi Police, who were out on a hunt for him. In a video recorded right before his detention, he mentions that he is surrendering to avoid brutal police attacks on thousands of other protestors.
Bail denied to Azad by Tiz Hazari Court, charged for hate speech
A bail plea for Chandra Shekhar Azad was moved before a Delhi court which was dismissed and Azad was sent to 14-day judicial custody, lodging him in Tihar Jail. He was produced before Delhi’s Tis Hazari Court on December 21 concerning the violence that took place during an ongoing demonstration at Delhi Gate in Daryaganj against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) on the last day in the evening. In the hearing of the court, Azad denied all allegation before the Tiz Hazari Court. He stated in his defense that he was not present at Delhi Gate in Daryaganj either before or during the demonstrations against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act. As per the FIR, Aazad was involved in delivering a ‘hate speech’, inciting people to get violent in the protest. However, as per the submissions made by Azad before the court, there is no proof given for any such instance of hate-speech with the involvement of Azad. He said that he had taken the Constitution of India and marched forward with it. I had taken the Constitution of India in my hands and marched with it. If saying we have to protect the Constitution is “incitement to violence” then the entire country is guilty,” Chandrashekhar Azad said. Apart from Azad, another 40 people were detained after violent clashes broke out between the police and the protestors at Jama Masjid.
Priyanka Gandhi demands immediate attention to Azad from AIIMS
After 15 days of his detention, the personal doctor of Azad has stated that the Bhim Army Chief is being denied the proper medical attention required for his health in Tihar Jail. General Secretary of Indian National Congress, Priyanka Gandhi has demanded his release on 05 January 2019 as reports suggest his medical conditions to be critical leading to a cardiac arrest. The demand is to immediately shift him to AIIMS and fetch the proper medical treatment required. In a tweet by Priyanka Gandhi, she says that there are no grounds to detain him in Jail. If he is unwell, he should not be denied medical treatment. She demands that Azad should be sent to AIIMS to be treated immediately.
She also attacked the present ruling party for the move of detaining Azad saying that it has become government policy and the modus operandi of “oppressing” dissent, to an extent that it has reached a point of “cowardice”. She says that the lack of basic humanity in government action is nothing but shameful.
Medical Condition might lead to Cardiac Arrest, says former AIIMS doctor
According to the statement of Dr. Harjit Singh Bhatti, a former AIIMS doctor, Azad is being denied the required medical treatment. He says that the Bhim Army Chief has a medical condition in which excess blood is produced and bi-weekly phlebotomy needs to be performed, the failure of which can lead to fatal consequences like cardiac arrest. He says
“The last phlebotomy had been performed in the previous month. A session was due before he was arrested and it has not been carried out since then. He has begun to show symptoms in the absence of the procedure.”
Dr. Bhatti says that he has informed the Tihar officials about his persisting medical condition but they keep denying the same on the pretext that ‘he is fine’. In the absence of a proper medical follow up required for him and this condition can lead to a cardiac arrest. In response to the said allegations the Director-General of Delhi Police, Sandeep Goel maintained the stand that Azad is keeping well in Tihar Jail. In his statement, he reveals, that the police are well aware of the persisting medical condition and medical history of Azad as he has been previously also lodged in Tihar Jail. He also said that due to his medical condition, he is being administered the required medicines and is keeping well in health.
Tihar Jail Authorities informed about Azad’s medical condition
Kush Ambedkarwadi, Bhim Army spokesperson who had met the jailed Bhim Army Chief on Friday, said that Azad has been undergoing treatment for his persisting medical condition for the past one-and-a-half years and that he had informed authorities at the Tihar Jail, where he is currently lodged, about the same.
“If Azad doesn’t get immediate medical care, his blood might get thicker and he may suffer a cardiac arrest. The jail authorities are not allowing him to visit AIIMS,” he said.
In his statement, he also called the ill-treatment of Azad as a completely inhuman and clear violation of human rights practices. He has requested the Delhi Police and (Home Minister) Amit Shah to get him admitted to AIIMS immediately on an urgent basis.
Opposition leaders slam BJP for ‘inhuman’ move, call it shameful
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor also reacted on the matter and said that irrespective of one’s view of an individual’s politics, common humanity must always dictate that even a prisoner should be allowed essential medical treatment, as and when required. He has called on the authorities to allow Chandrashekhar Azad to visit AIIMS for proper medical treatment.
MLA Jignesh Mevani has tweeted in support of Azad’s release and immediate medical attention. He says the Ravan is not only being denied his right to protest and was wrongfully arrested but now the police authorities have gone a step ahead. He says that the police which is being controlled by the tyrant Amit Shah is denying him to seek medical treatment. He calls this behavior of the Delhi Police as inhumane and sick. He demands that Ravan be put under the proper medical care of a team at AIIMS in New Delhi or any such well-known hospital. He condemns the government and says that this is about morality but Home Minister Amit Shah has none.