The stand-off between Anna Hazare and the government ended on Thursday with an agreement showing give-and-take on both sides. The anti-corruption crusader will now launch an indefinite fast for 15 days at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan on Friday, but subject to certain conditions.
A breakthrough in the deadlock over conditions imposed on Hazare's fast was achieved in the early hours of the day after two nights of hard bargaining. Hazare will spend one more night in Tihar Jail as the new venue is not ready.
Judicial Accountability Bill
Close on the heels of the deal, Team Anna also hinted that it may not insist on inclusion of higher judiciary in the Lokpal Bill if the government brings a "good" Judicial Accountability Bill.
The activists also pleaded that the Jan Lokpal Bill prepared by them should at least be brought to Parliament for its consideration.
Breakthrough at last
The breakthrough on the fast came after a 30-minute meeting between Hazare's associates Kiran Bedi, Prashant Bhushan, Manish Sisodia and Arvind Kejriwal and Delhi Police Commissioner B.K. Gupta at his residence early on Thursday. (Read: Anna-govt face-off: Day 1 | Day 2)
Supporters of Anna Hazare shout slogans.
Hazare was supposed to begin his fast on Thursday but postponed it as the venue was not ready. "I just spoke to Anna ji. In view of the conditions at Ramlila Maidan, he will reach the venue (to fast) tomorrow," Kejriwal said.
Kejriwal hinted that Hazare's fast could extended beyond 15 days and added that the 73-year-old Gandhian was keeping good health. "Doctors have certified that Anna Hazare is fully fit," he said.
Team Anna signs undertaking
Team Anna has given a two-page undertaking to the police in which it agreed to abide by existing rules and regulations and keep the crowd under 25,000 people, which is the ground's capacity.
The undertaking signed by Hazare himself and his associates Kejriwal, Prashant Bhushan, Bedi and Shanti Bhushan said that if any clause was violated, they would be liable to be prosecuted under law.
The clauses of the undertaking include no damage to public property; gathering not to exceed the limit of the ground; the crowd will not spill over to the nearby roads; the protesters will cooperate with the traffic police; loudspeakers' use within the ambit of a Supreme Court order (10 pm limit).
The other clauses are: Arrangements of drinking water, medical aid, mobile toilets, proper lighting; no carrying of lathi or any weapon; no provocative slogans/speeches; no inflammatory slogans within 200 meters of religious or worship places; public safety will be taken care of; no use of crackers.
Medical examination of Hazare and those who will keep fast along with him will be conducted by government doctors three times a day while Team Anna promised to abide by the April 16, 2009 order of the Supreme Court which stipulated rules and regulations for public protests.
Clearance not without conditions: Home secy
Union Home Secretary R.K. Singh said the clearance given for Anna's fast was not without conditions.
He said the government was not involved in negotiations with Team Anna. "The Delhi Police discussed with Team Anna and, thereafter, they have come to a decision. What the Delhi Police conveyed to the Ministry of Home Affairs is that the permission was given till September 2 on the usual sort of conditions," he said.
Singh said it was not proper to say the agreement was a victory for one side and defeat for the other. "If someone is saying that this is a victory or something, this is not the right way to say," he said.
Indefinite fast, not unto death: Bedi
Kiran Bedi said Hazare's fast would be indefinite but not unto death. "Anna Hazare will fast as long as he can sustain it, he will fast as long as there is no threat to his life," she said.
Ramlila Maidan clean-up begins
A massive operation is on to ready the Ramlila Maidan, where yoga guru Baba Ramdev had held a fast in June before being evicted by the police. Bedi visited the venue to oversee the preparations.
Social activist Swami Agnivesh said the preparations at Ramlila Maidan "were on at a war-footing". "Anna's win is the victory of the people of India. There can be no tolerance for corruption," he said. (In pics: Protests in Tihar)
Hazare to leave Tihar, may visit Rajghat
How the deal was brokered.
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It is not clear when Hazare will leave Tihar Jail, where he has been lodged and fasting since Tuesday afternoon. It was initially reported that he will leave the prison on Thursday and visit Mahatma Gandhi's samadhi at Rajghat.
Hazare underwent a medical check-up under the supervision of home ministry officials in jail.
Bomb disposal and dog squads conducted surprise checks outside Tihar Jail on Thursday morning ahead of Hazare's exit. Thousands of his supporters have been camping outside the high-security prison since Tuesday, rooting for him, chanting slogans and waving the Tricolour.
Hegde offers to mediate over Lokpal Bill
Former Karnataka Lokayukta Santosh Hegde sprung a surprise by saying that he can try and convince Hazare to keep the prime minister and higher judiciary out of the purview of the Lokpal Bill if all his other demands are met by the government.
There has been no official reaction on this from Hazare's team, which has been campaigning for the inclusion of the prime minister, higher judiciary and the conduct of MPs in Parliament under Lokpal.
Tihar becomes Ground Zero
Tihar Jail has become the centrestage of protests in support of Hazare ever since he was lodged there. Ramdev, spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravishankar and social activist Medha Patkar visited Tihar Jail on Wednesday to join forces with Hazare's supporters. Ramdev also submitted a memorandum against Hazare's arrest to President Pratibha Patil.
Hazare's team also organised a march from India Gate to Jantar Mantar on Wednesday evening in which thousands participated. Protests were also held in other cities.
Team Anna-police face-off
Wednesday saw intense negotiations between Hazare's aides and the government over terms and conditions for the fast, leading to a deadlock till late night. The police were allowing only seven days of fasting and had put a cap on the number of protesters, besides other restrictions.
Hazare's team wanted at least a month-long fast. Both parties had, however, agreed to Ramlila Maidan being the venue instead of Jai Prakash Narain Park chosen earlier.
The Delhi Police had arrested Hazare on Tuesday morning ahead of his fast at Jai Prakash Narain Park. He was sent to seven days in judicial custody at Tihar, but the authorities ordered his release by evening. Hazare, however, refused to leave the prison, insisting on an unconditional release and permission to launch his fast.
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