Mumbai, Sep 11: India Against Corruption (IAC) member Arvind Kejriwal Tuesday threatened to sit on a protest outside the prison where cartoonist Aseem Trivedi has been jailed if all charges against him are not dropped.
"Either you release Aseem or arrest us," Kejriwal said.
"Aseem had fought in support of Lokpal and against corruption but he has been called a traitor. However, those stealing coal are termed patriots. This will not be tolerated by the countrymen," he added.
Kejriwal pointed out that Maharashtra Home Minister R.R. Patil, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni and Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari have conceded that a proper case has not been made out against Trivedi.
Patil had earlier claimed that the home ministry was not involved in the case against Trivedi, and assured that the government would arrange for his speedy release.
Trivedi is lodged in the Arthur Road prison in south Mumbai for allegedly uploading "ugly and obscene" matter on his web portal and putting up objectionable banners insulting the constitution during Anna Hazare's protest last year.
He has been sent to judicial custody till Sep 24.
Facing sedition charges under Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code, along with other offences under the Information Technology Act, Trivedi was nabbed by police from Bandra-Kurla late Saturday after a non-bailable warrant was issued against him.
Trivedi had refused to apply for bail in the case until the sedition charges - which attract a maximum life imprisonment - are withdrawn.
Trivedi's arrest was made on a complaint filed by a Republican Party of India activist Amit Katarnaye.
