Jharkhand Police releases noted economist Jean Dreze after 2-hour detention

Jharkhand Police released noted economist Jean Dreze two hours after detaining him on Thursday for allegedly organising a meeting without permission. According to reports, Dreze was arrested along with two other activists working to ensure Right to Food. They were holding a public grievance meeting in Garhwa district’s Bishunpura to resolve issues related to ration and pension pendency.

A senior police officer said that the Belgian-born economist, now an Indian citizen, was addressing a meeting in Garhwa district in violation of the Model Code of Conduct.

"Dreze was taken into preventive custody for addressing a meeting at Bishanpura in Garwha district, about which the local administration had no information," he said.

Reports suggest that the activists alleged that the cops initially said a case would be filed against them. However, they were eventually released without any charges.

Meanwhile, the Congress has slammed the Jharkhand’s BJP government led by Raghubar Das by saying the state should be more receptive to help.

World renowned economist & social activist Jean Dreze & 2 others have been arrested by the BJP govt. in Jharkhand for daring to hold a meeting on Right to Food. In a state with so many hunger deaths, you'd expect the govt to be more receptive to help. https://t.co/ivXgtOK4q9

— Congress (@INCIndia) March 28, 2019

“World-renowned economist & social activist Jean Dreze & 2 others have been arrested by the BJP govt. in Jharkhand for daring to hold a meeting on Right to Food. In a state with so many hunger deaths, you'd expect the govt to be more receptive to help,” the Congress tweeted:

59-year-old Dreze, known for his activism on the right to food, has co-authored Hunger and Public Action, with Nobel laureate Amartya Sen. The book focused on the problem of hunger in the modern world.