Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad Released From Tihar Jail

Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad, who was arrested in connection with the violence during an anti-CAA protest in Old Delhi's Daryaganj, was released from Tihar Jail on Thursday night, officials said. Azad's outfit had organised a march from Jama Masjid to Jantar Mantar against the amended citizenship act on December 20, without police permission. He was sent to judicial custody on December 21.

On Wednesday, a Delhi court had granted bail to Azad, who was accused of inciting people during the protests against the Citizenship Act at Jama Masjid. The court also restrained Azad from visiting Delhi for four weeks and directed him not to hold any dharna till the elections in the national capital.

After being released from jail, Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad said, "Our movement will continue in constitutional way as long as the law is not withdrawn. We are against those who want to divide this country." He added that he would visit Jama Masjid at 1 pm on Friday followed by a trip to the Ravidas Temple, a gurudwara and a church. Chandrashekhar is allowed to remain in Delhi for 24 hours since release.

Additional Sessions Judge Kamini Lau had granted the relief to Azad on furnishing a bail bond of Rs 25,000.

While granting bail to Azad on Wednesday, the judge recited Rabindranath Tagore's famous poem 'Where the Mind is Without Fear' and said citizens have a fundamental right to peaceful protest which cannot be curtailed by the state.

"I am reminded of our reverend patriotic poet Rabindranath Tagore who is most relevant today. He during the colonial era in early 1900's when British followed the policy of Divide and Rule, visualised a nation where where there is no fear in the minds people and education is attained by all; people are enlightened and do not create walls of discrimination," she had said. 

(With PTI and ANI Inputs)