New Delhi: Swaraj Abhiyan leader Yogendra Yadav, who had undertaken a Kisan Jan Andolan, today demanded that the plough confiscated by the Delhi Police from Jantar Mantar last month be returned.
In a letter to Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung, Yadav said that the L-G had given an assurance that the plough -- the "symbol of farmers pride" -- will be returned to them but the Delhi Police has now laid out the "condition" that the plough will "not be used for future agitation".
"Sir, as per our talks on the 12th of August, you had given the assurance that our sacred Hal (plough) will be returned to us. But the Delhi Police on being requested to give it back to us, has imposed a shocking and ridiculous condition that Swaraj Abhiyan and Jai Kisan Andolan will not use this Hal in any future protest or demonstration.
"Jai Kisan Andolan considers the condition put by Delhi Police as unlawful and in violation of Section 19 of the Constitution which grants us the freedom of expression. The unconstitutional step of police infringes upon the democratic rights of the farmers of this country," he said in the letter.
The plough was seized by the Delhi Police during the Jai Kisan Andolan in a post-midnight swoop at Jantar Mantar, where Yadav and Swaraj Abhiyan activists had been protesting against the Centre's "anti-former policies".
"Jai Kisan Andolan refuses to accept any such unlawful condition and requests you to intervene in this matter and help us to get back our Hal, the symbol of agrarian struggle and farmers pride.
We hope that you will consider this matter urgently and take necessary action," Yadav added.
