New Delhi: The Delhi Police detained social activist Anna Hazare early on Tuesday morning. Yesterday, the 74-year-old Gandhian had said he will begin his second indefinite fast at Jai Prakash Narain Park today despite being denied permission.
"Police have detained us. They are not disclosing the destination," said Arvind Kejriwal, a member of Team Anna.
At a packed press conference at Delhi's Constitution Club yesterday, Mr Hazare had declared, "I am starting my fast tomorrow. It is just the start of a struggle for change. We have to fight a long battle. It's going to be a fight to bring about change in India."
For days, the Gandhian has been adamant that he will begin his indefinite fast in the national capital on August 16. The authorities have been equally adamant that they shall not allow large crowds to gather in Delhi. Mr Hazare said on Monday that he had no fear of police restrictions.
Delhi Police have imposed Section 144 at several places in the capital, including central Delhi, JP Park, Rajghat, and Dilli Gate. Mr Hazare plans a visit to Rajghat early on Tuesday morning before heading to the Jai Prakash Narain Park in central Delhi to begin his fast. (Read: Sec 144 imposed at Jai Prakash Narain Park, Rajghat)
PTI says Delhi government on Monday night has decided to allow use of Chhatrasal Stadium in Model Town in North Delhi for keeping the supporters of Anna Hazare in the event of their arrest.
Close to a 100 people, who were protesting at the Jai Prakash Narayan Park, were detained by the police as they violated Section 144. Most of these people have already been released but a few have been moved to the Chhatrasal Stadium.
Anna today reiterated "We will go to Jai Prakash Narain Park on Tuesday for the fast, if they arrest us, let them. We will start a jail bharo andolan (movement to fill jails) but will remain non-violent. We will go back to fasting when they will release us from jail."
At the core of Anna Hazare's protest against corruption is the draft Lok Pal Bill that the government has brought in Parliament in this session. Key among its features is that it seeks to exclude the Prime Minister from the purview of the Lok Pal. Anna's team of civil activists calls this the "Joke Pal Bill" and have burnt copies of it in protest.
Today, the septuagenarian Gandhian had a few words to say on the issue. ''Why don't they place the right Bill in front of Parliament? We are not against Parliament. The government had assured us they would look into our draft, but suddenly they changed their stand.''
He added, "If the right Lokpal Bill comes, at least 60 to 65 percent corruption in the country will be removed. If I am proved wrong, then I will work as a domestic help in Kapil Sibal's house."
The Bill that Anna Hazare wants to see brought to Parliament is the one that members of the civil society on the joint Lok Pal Bill drafting committee had prepared. What was to have been a joint exercise between an equal number of members from the government and the civil society, resulted in no consensus and two draft Bills. Mr Hazare -- whose fast in April this year had seen a groundswell of support and forced the government to agree to allowing Team Anna a role in drafting a law against corruption -- hopes to gather more support with his next fast.
At his Independence Day address, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh promised a strong Lokpal to end corruption in high places and asserted that hunger strikes would not help address the problem. (Read: We want a strong Lokpal Bill, says the Prime Minister)
In response Mr Hazare said he, ''was disappointed today. I used to think the Prime Minister is an honest man. But he is speaking in the same language as Kapil Sibal. Manmohan Singh is not serious about removing corruption from the country.''
But Anna Hazare was clear he was not here to topple a government. "It is not important to remove the government, but if the peoples' voices are not heard then the government may fall,'' he warned. He ended the press conference with a request to people to switch off lights at home for one hour on Monday in symbolic support of Team Anna's crusade.
Anna Hazare at Raj Ghat
Earlier on Monday, Mr Hazare made an unscheduled stop at Rajghat to meditate just hours after he was Delhi Police denied him permission for his Tuesday's protest fast. A big crowd gathered around him as he sat near Mahatma Gandhi's samadhi to meditate, taking the Delhi Police totally by surprise. (Read: Anna's surprise visit to meditate at Rajghat)
The Delhi Police refusal for permission came after the 74-year-old refused to give a "full and proper" undertaking on 22 conditions laid down by the m for his fast. Mr Hazare's team said that it was willing to accept 16 conditions, but that the other 6 were "unconstitutional". In particular, two conditions - that he would only fast for three days and not extend it and a restriction on the number of protesters gathered around him to less than 5,000.
"They (Team Anna) were told that there are some directions from the court according to which they will have to give some undertaking. Only then can they hold a procession. We could not permit them for an indefinite fast. We suggested that they keep the whole thing limited to 2-3 days but they rejected the idea. That is why permission has not been given," Sudhir Yadav, Joint Commissioner, Delhi Police explained. (Read: Government justifies Delhi Police rejecting permission to Anna)
Team Anna has refused to budge
"Police have detained us. They are not disclosing the destination," said Arvind Kejriwal, a member of Team Anna.
At a packed press conference at Delhi's Constitution Club yesterday, Mr Hazare had declared, "I am starting my fast tomorrow. It is just the start of a struggle for change. We have to fight a long battle. It's going to be a fight to bring about change in India."
For days, the Gandhian has been adamant that he will begin his indefinite fast in the national capital on August 16. The authorities have been equally adamant that they shall not allow large crowds to gather in Delhi. Mr Hazare said on Monday that he had no fear of police restrictions.
Delhi Police have imposed Section 144 at several places in the capital, including central Delhi, JP Park, Rajghat, and Dilli Gate. Mr Hazare plans a visit to Rajghat early on Tuesday morning before heading to the Jai Prakash Narain Park in central Delhi to begin his fast. (Read: Sec 144 imposed at Jai Prakash Narain Park, Rajghat)
PTI says Delhi government on Monday night has decided to allow use of Chhatrasal Stadium in Model Town in North Delhi for keeping the supporters of Anna Hazare in the event of their arrest.
Close to a 100 people, who were protesting at the Jai Prakash Narayan Park, were detained by the police as they violated Section 144. Most of these people have already been released but a few have been moved to the Chhatrasal Stadium.
Anna today reiterated "We will go to Jai Prakash Narain Park on Tuesday for the fast, if they arrest us, let them. We will start a jail bharo andolan (movement to fill jails) but will remain non-violent. We will go back to fasting when they will release us from jail."
At the core of Anna Hazare's protest against corruption is the draft Lok Pal Bill that the government has brought in Parliament in this session. Key among its features is that it seeks to exclude the Prime Minister from the purview of the Lok Pal. Anna's team of civil activists calls this the "Joke Pal Bill" and have burnt copies of it in protest.
Today, the septuagenarian Gandhian had a few words to say on the issue. ''Why don't they place the right Bill in front of Parliament? We are not against Parliament. The government had assured us they would look into our draft, but suddenly they changed their stand.''
He added, "If the right Lokpal Bill comes, at least 60 to 65 percent corruption in the country will be removed. If I am proved wrong, then I will work as a domestic help in Kapil Sibal's house."
The Bill that Anna Hazare wants to see brought to Parliament is the one that members of the civil society on the joint Lok Pal Bill drafting committee had prepared. What was to have been a joint exercise between an equal number of members from the government and the civil society, resulted in no consensus and two draft Bills. Mr Hazare -- whose fast in April this year had seen a groundswell of support and forced the government to agree to allowing Team Anna a role in drafting a law against corruption -- hopes to gather more support with his next fast.
At his Independence Day address, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh promised a strong Lokpal to end corruption in high places and asserted that hunger strikes would not help address the problem. (Read: We want a strong Lokpal Bill, says the Prime Minister)
In response Mr Hazare said he, ''was disappointed today. I used to think the Prime Minister is an honest man. But he is speaking in the same language as Kapil Sibal. Manmohan Singh is not serious about removing corruption from the country.''
But Anna Hazare was clear he was not here to topple a government. "It is not important to remove the government, but if the peoples' voices are not heard then the government may fall,'' he warned. He ended the press conference with a request to people to switch off lights at home for one hour on Monday in symbolic support of Team Anna's crusade.
Anna Hazare at Raj Ghat
Earlier on Monday, Mr Hazare made an unscheduled stop at Rajghat to meditate just hours after he was Delhi Police denied him permission for his Tuesday's protest fast. A big crowd gathered around him as he sat near Mahatma Gandhi's samadhi to meditate, taking the Delhi Police totally by surprise. (Read: Anna's surprise visit to meditate at Rajghat)
The Delhi Police refusal for permission came after the 74-year-old refused to give a "full and proper" undertaking on 22 conditions laid down by the m for his fast. Mr Hazare's team said that it was willing to accept 16 conditions, but that the other 6 were "unconstitutional". In particular, two conditions - that he would only fast for three days and not extend it and a restriction on the number of protesters gathered around him to less than 5,000.
"They (Team Anna) were told that there are some directions from the court according to which they will have to give some undertaking. Only then can they hold a procession. We could not permit them for an indefinite fast. We suggested that they keep the whole thing limited to 2-3 days but they rejected the idea. That is why permission has not been given," Sudhir Yadav, Joint Commissioner, Delhi Police explained. (Read: Government justifies Delhi Police rejecting permission to Anna)
Team Anna has refused to budge
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