Left parties condemn attack on Prashant Bhushan

Left parties today strongly condemned the attack on anti-corruption campaigner Prashant Bhushan and demanded stringent action against the culprits.

"This physical attack on Bhushan is reprehensible and should be strongly condemned. Those who conducted this attack cannot, by these means, suppress the right of anyone to express their opinion. Strong action should be taken against the culprits," CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat told PTI.

Maintaining that it was an attack on freedom of expression and on Indian democracy, CPI national secretary D Raja said, "A few people cannot be allowed to take law into their hands through hooliganism and rowdyism. Stringent action should be taken against them."

Also condemning the attack on Bhushan inside his chambers, the CPI(ML) Liberation said the pretext was that Bhushan had "publicly spoken for the rights of Kashmiri people and had advocated a referendum in Kashmir."

"This attack constitutes part of the Sangh Parivar's agenda to intimidate those defending democracy and people's rights and resisting jingoism and communal fascism," the party said.

It has exposed "the real fascist face of the Sangh Parivar at a time when Advani is on rath yatra claiming to champion the Jayprakash Narayan movement's democratic legacy and fight against corruption", the CPI(ML) said.