Economist Jean Dreze detained in Jharkhand for organising public meeting without permission

Noted Right to Food activist Jean Dreze was detained on March 28 by police in Jharkhand’s Garhwa district for organising a meeting without permission from district authorities.They were released later in the day after furnishing personal bonds.

Ranchi: Noted economist Jean Dreze was taken into "preventive custody" on Thursday for allegedly organising a public meeting without permission, the police had said.

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 told reporters that he was invited to a meeting to talk on 'Right to Food and Pension', organised by a local non-profit, in Jharkhand's Garhwa district this morning.

He said the organisers had sought permission in writing from the district administration nearly 10 days ago. But as the administration did not respond, the organisers decided to go ahead with the meeting, since it had no direct connection with the election.

"If people are not even allowed to hold peaceful non-political meetings about issues like the right to food at election time, then democracy has no meaning," he said.

Dreze is known for his activism on the issue of 'Right to Food'. The Belgian-born development economist co-authored Hunger and Public Action, which focused on the problem of hunger in the modern world. Nobel laureate Amartya Sen was the other author of the book.

Jean Dreze is currently an honorary professor at the Delhi School of Economics and a visiting professor at the Ranchi University. He previously taught at the London School of Economics.