150 eminent people write to Modi seeking Rajasthan MLA's arrest

Over 150 eminent personalities on Saturday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, seeking arrest of Rajasthan BJP legislator Kanwarlal Meena, accused of leading an attack on NGO workers affiliated to organisations of activists Aruna Roy and Nikhil Dey in Jhalawar.

"We strongly condemn the culture of impunity that allowed Kanwarlal Meena to blatantly violently attack the Jawabdehi yatra. We demand his arrest," said a statement signed by over 150 eminent people including journalist Pamela Philipose, professor Achin Vanaik, former information commissioner Shailesh Gandhi, and economist Jayati Ghosh among others.

Others who signed the statement include Medha Patkar, Uma Chakravarti, Harsh Mander, Baba Adhav and Annie Raja.

The social activists through their letters demanded immediate action against the perpetrators of the assault.

"Those guilty of the attacks and the leaders behind them be brought to justice promptly. Proper compensation be paid for the medical treatment of those who were assaulted, and for the mental and physical trauma they have suffered," the letter said.

They also demanded that the Rajasthan government publicly condemn the incident and institute a proper inquiry into it.

"This attack is one more example of criminalisation of politics and the threat it poses to our democratic fabric. Using physical violence and leading a mob against social activists raising awareness about issues related to access to entitlements and justice by the poor shows how much our political establishment is willing to use criminal elements to suppress any dissent," said Jagdeep Chhokar of the Association of Democratic Reform.