Chidambaram demands immediate release of poet-activist Varavara Rao

Hours after jailed poet and activist Varavara Rao tested positive for COVID-19, Congress leader P Chidambaram on Thursday took to Twitter to demand his immediate release.

New Delhi:Terming the behavior of Mumbai police and Taloja prison authorities towards jailed poet and activist Varavara Rao as 'inhumane', Congress leader P Chidambaram on Thursday demanded immediate release and proper treatment of the former.

This came hours after Rao, an accused in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case, tested positive for COVID-19.

While describing that Roa's health condition is a grave matter of concern for his family, the Congress leader took to Twitter and urged the state government to admit him to a super specialty hospital for proper treatment.

Taking to Twitter, Chidambaram said," The condition of Shri Varavara Rao as described by his family is a matter of grave concern. It is beyond belief that the State, the police, and the prison authorities can behave in such an inhuman manner under the watch of the NHRC."

The 80-year-old, lodged in the Taloja jail in Navi Mumbai under judicial custody, was admitted to the state-run JJ Hospital here earlier this week.

According to Dr. Ranjeet Mankeshwar, dean of JJ Hospital, Rao's medical report came on Thursday and he was found to be coronavirus positive.

Rao was shifted to the government-run hospital in south Mumbai after he complained of giddiness.