Activists organise funeral march to protest against midnight swoop

Condemning the midnight swoop on Baba Ramdev on June 5, volunteers of India Against Corruption and Bharat Swabhiman Nyas, organised a funeral procession for ‘democracy’ in the city on Tuesday. Pooja Domadia reports.

Condemning the midnight swoop on Baba Ramdev on June 5, volunteers of India Against Corruption and Bharat Swabhiman Nyas, organised a funeral procession for ‘democracy’ in the city on Tuesday.

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The procession started from the Bandstand and ended at Bandra station. Protesters waved black flags and had covered their mouths and hands with black bands. They also held aloft placards with messages such as “Indian Democracy 1950-2011”, and “At the stroke of the midnight, when the nation slept, democracy died for injustice”.

The volunteers shouted slogans condemning the action against Ramdev and other protesters in Delhi.

“The attack on people who were using democracy to make demands for the nation’s welfare is an attack on democracy and we condemn it,” said Mayank Gandhi, member of India Against Corruption (IAC).

Ramdev was detained by the Delhi police and sent to Haridwar. Thousands of supporters were evacuated from the Ramlila Maidan after midnight on June 4.

“Now it is not only corruption, but the protest is also against the current state of India where democracy is being suppressed,” said Ruben Masceranhas, volunteer, IAC.

Rakesh Kumar of the Bharat Swabhiman Nyas, said: “We are expressing our anger against the government’s inhuman act.”