Former PM Devegowda condemns attack on Prashant Bhushan

New Delhi, Oct 12 (ANI): Former Prime Minister H.D. Devegowda on Wednesday condemned the dastardly attack on Supreme Court lawyer and Team Anna member Prashant Bhushan within the premises of the Supreme Court.

"I am extremely shocked to learn about the dastardly attack on legal luminary and eminent civil society activist allegedly by Sangh Parivar goons in his Supreme Court chambers today. The attack on Shri Bhushan, who has sacrificed immensely for the cause of the society and the nation, is an act of cowardice, which all right thinking people should condemn in the strongest possible terms," said Devegowda.

"It is indeed a sad day for democracy that a handful of anti-social elements dared to assault a champion of constitutional rights in the premises of the highest court of the land, the Supreme Court itself. While everyone has a right to differ, the attempts to muzzle or silence "uncomfortable" voices is unacceptable and has to be dealt with sternly, if we have to protect and preserve our democratic rights and values," he added.

Devegowda, who is the National President of Janata Dal (Secular), further said that he had earlier staged a protest at Mahatma Gandhi's memorial Rajghat and demanded a ban on 'Sri Rama Sene' in the wake of the serial attacks on Christians and churches in Karnataka following the assumption of office by the BJP Government.

"I had even staged a 'Dharna' in front of Mahatma Gandhi's Samadhi at Rajghat and demanded a ban on 'Sri Rama Sene' (which has claimed responsibility for the attack on Shri Bhushan) in the wake of the serial attacks on Christians and churches in Karnataka following the assumption of office by the BJP Government," said Devegowda.

"I wish to assure Shri Prashant Bhushan that the Janata Dal (Secular) shall stand as a rock behind him and shall oppose tooth and nail such fascist, communal and anti-democratic forces. I also demand that the Government of India ban forthwith such groups which pose a threat to India's secular fabric, unity and integrity and democratic system," he added.

Bhushan was beaten up by two youth suspected to be from Sriram Sena in his Supreme Court lawyers" chambers today evening as they were upset with his stand on Jammu and Kashmir.

He was pulled out of the chair, slapped, dragged and repeatedly punched.

The youths had entered his office claiming that they had an appointment with Bhushan, a prominent Team Anna member who is in the forefront of the fight for a strong Lokpal.

A case has been registered and one person has been arrested. (ANI)