Indian
Express,
New Delhi
December 24, 1987
Agnivesh
Arrested
JAITPURA
(RAJASTHAN):
The Arya Samaj leader, Swami Agnivesh and 300 of his fellow padyatris,
were arrested here on Wednesday when they violated prohibitory
orders imposed in the area.
The
police took the anti-sati marchers into custody when they started
proceeding towards Deorala in Sikar district on the final day
of their march. The march started from Red Fort in Delhi on
December 5 on a social awareness campaign against sati and other
social evils perpetrated against women.
Though
the Rajasthan High Court, through an order on December 21, had
quashed the prohibitory orders in force in Chomu tehsil, terming
it as discriminatory since it was issued to stop only Swami Agnivesh
and the padyatris, the sub-divisional magistrate issued a fresh
order on Wednesday.
The
order served to Swami Agnivesh in the morning on Wednesday said
the administration feared a threat to the life of the Swami
and his fellow padyatris and anticipated a clash between the marchers
and supporters of the pro-sati Dharam Raksha Samiti.
Astonished
that the Government had chosen to issue a second notification
prohibiting their march after the Rajasthan High Court order,
Swami Agnivesh said the padyatris would break the prohibitory
orders.
Mrs.
Promila Dandvate clarified that she and many others in the Janata
Party were opposed to the stand taken by the party member, Mr.
Kalyan Singh Kalvi, on the issue of sati.
The
padyatris earlier took a decision to resume their march to Deorala
at Mothu Ka Bas after completing the "nari jagran mahayagna"
which they had started after being stopped by the Government on
Sunday. They had walked three kms to Jaitpura before they were
arrested.
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