Agnivesh expresses concern over arrest of naturopath

: Social activist Swami Agnivesh has expressed concern at the 'injustice' meted out to a naturopath, arrested recently for allegedly spreading false information about medicines given by the government to people affected by rat fever after last month's deluge in Kerala.

Jacob Vadakkanchery was arrested by the state CB-CID early this month after a probe, carried out on a directive received by state police chief from Health Minister K K Shylaja.

Vadakkanchery, through his social media posts, had questioned the authenticity of the medicines given by the government to prevent leptospirosis (rat fever).

Police had also earlier warned him against carrying out a false propaganda to create panic among people.

According to Agnivesh, Vadakkancherry was arrested under non-bailable provision of the IPC to deny him the fundamental freedom of thought and expression in accordance with his conscience.

He termed as draconian, attempts to shut out voices deemed inconvenient to the ruling dispensation and the drug and vaccination industry.

In a statement, he said if the government felt that the naturopath's efforts to raise public awareness,as he believed, was wrong, they were free to resort to adequate counter propaganda measures, backed by scientific facts, to assuage the anxieties of the people.

Vadakkanchery was entitled to protection under the provisions of the Constitution, Agnivesh said, adding he was concerned that his (Vadakancherry's) fundamental right to freedom of thought and expression is abrogated.

"If a citizen has certain convictions, for which he is able to provide cogent grounds, the right thing to do is to engage him in a rational debate and expose the fallacy of his advocacies.

Silencing him through police action betrays diffidence in one's own stand", he stated.

He also urged the Left government to release Vadakkanchery immediately from police custody and to withdraw the 'misconceived action' initiated against him