"Police State": Yogendra Yadav, Detained In Tamil Nadu, Hits Out At Cops

Yogendra Yadav, psephologist-turned-politician, said he was arrested in Tamil Nadu's Tiruvannamalai district on Saturday while on his way to meet farmers protesting against a proposed Rs 10,000 crore eight-lane Salem-Chennai expressway. In tweets, Mr Yadav, 55, alleged that the police stopped him from meeting farmers, accusing the cops of manhandling. "My crime: Wanting to meet farmers in their home. Where is rule of law?" he tweeted. Released after about four hours, he said he was going on with his plan to meet the farmers.

"TN police has detained me and team in Chengam PS, Thiru Annamalai district. We came on the invitation of Movement Against 8 Lane Way. We were prevented from going to meet farmers, phones snatched, manhandled and pushed into police van. First hand experience of police state in TN! (sic)" tweeted Mr Yadav, who founded Swaraj India in 2015 after he was evicted from the Aam Aadmi Party for taking on Arvind Kejriwal.

The police has denied the allegations, saying the activist had not sought permission before meeting the farmers. Cops contend that Mr Yadav and his team would have needed police protection as the situation could have turned volatile given the sensitivity of the situation.

In more tweets, Yogendra Yadav, who launched the Jai Kisan Andolan - a campaign for farmers' rights - last year, also alleged that he was arrested minutes after he spoke to a senior district official about complaints of forced acquisition of land for the expressway and police excesses.

I had spoken to Mr Kandasamy, Collector, Thiru Annamalai about acquisition and complains of police excesses for 8 lane way. He completely denied any police interference. Within minutes of the phone call police detained us. https://t.co/KYrA0oHJ26

- Yogendra Yadav (@_YogendraYadav) September 8, 2018

Supdt. Police, Thiru Annamalai is here to tell me hay they apprehend law and order problem due to my presence! I am saying I will only visit farmers inside their homes. SP says I am not allowed!
Gandhian disobedience is the only way out, it seems.

- Yogendra Yadav (@_YogendraYadav) September 8, 2018

The expressway has been facing opposition from a section of locals including farmers over fear of losing their land, as well as environmentalists who are opposed to felling of trees for the project.

In June, actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan slammed the Tamil Nadu government for arresting people protesting against the eight-lane expressway. "To treat anyone talking about environment as a crime is not acceptable. This concern should be there among all," Mr Haasan told reporters.

The police has been accused of indiscriminate and arbitrary arrests of locals and activists who are protesting against the acquisition of thousands of acres of agricultural land.

(With inputs from Agencies)