NEW DELHI: Karnataka police on Thursday detained scores of people, including writer and historian
Ramachandra Guha, protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act.
Guha called police action "absolutely undemocratic." Police are not allowing even a peaceful protest, which is the democratic right of the citizens, he said.
Expressing surprise over detention of Ramachandra Guha, Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa instructed the police to exercise restraint against the agitators.
Guha's detention evoked strong reactions from several quarters.
Chairperson and Managing Director of biopharmaceuticals enterprise Biocon,
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw
expressed shock over the police action.
"This is shocking n reflects the total lack of understanding of fundamental freedom to express dissent - a peaceful protest shd not be mishandled in this manner", she said on Twitter.
West Bengal chief minister
Mamata Banerjee condemned Guha's detention. Extending her solidarity with Guha and other agitators, Banerjee said the Centre was scared of one of India's "most accomplished" historians.
"This government is scared of students. This government is scared of one of India's most accomplished historians for speaking to the media on #CAB #NRC and holding a poster of GandhiJi. I condemn the detention of Ram Guha. We extend our full solidarity to all those detained," she tweeted.