Anna Hazare will fast as long as he can sustain it, says Kiran Bedi

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.
Click here to Enlarge
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.

"Anna Hazare will fast as long as he can sustain it, says Kiran Bedi"

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Hazare in same Tihar ward as Kalmadi; protests sweep India

Anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare was on Tuesday sent to Tihar Jail for 7-day judicial custody after he and his associates Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi and Shanti Bhushan were arrested in Delhi ahead of the proposed fast over the Lokpal Bill. Watch Live
Delhi Police personnel and Anna Hazare supporters near his residence.
Hazare is housed in the same ward (Ward 4) as disgraced CWG Organising Committee chief Suresh Kalmadi while Kejriwal is in the same ward (Ward 1) as A. Raja, the prime 2G Spectrum Scam accused. "Anna Hazare refused to sign the personal bond and has been sent to seven days in judicial custody in Tihar jail," Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat said.
Hazare was taken for a medical examination before being produced before the magistrate. The 73-year-old Gandhian had been taken into custody from a residential area in Mayur Vihar early morning as he was to proceed to the fast venue of J.P. Park, where prohibitory orders were in place.
Hazare fasts in police custody
Hazare, Bedi and Kejriwal were brought to the Delhi Police Officers' Mess at Civil Lines after their arrest, where the Gandhian launched a fast. Hazare's team said he was not even taking water.
Govt defends arrests
The government defended the arrest of Hazare and his associates, saying they had pointblank refused to agree to the conditions laid down by the Delhi Police.
"This government is not against any democratic and peaceful protest. Protests have to be held under conditions laid down by the police," Home Minister P. Chidambaram said at a press conference.
Chidambaram said that Hazare this morning was proceeding to J.P. Park to defy prohibitory orders. "The police concluded that he would be comitting a cognisable opffcence," he said.
"The organisers (of Hazare's protest) refused to accept six of the many conditions laid down by the police, including that of limiting the fast to three days and maximum of 5,000 supporters. They made it clear they will defy the orders," Chidambaram said.
The home minister said the conditions laid down by the police were as per past rulings of the Supreme Court and high courts. "Hazare and six others were taken to the Delhi Police Officers' Mess. Around 300 others were detained across the city and taken to the Chattrasal Stadium," he said.
HRD Minister Kapil Sibal said the government wasn't against the right to protest, but that shouldn't disturb public order.
"Conditions laid down on holding protests depend on the area where they are intended to be held. The area around J.P. Park is busy, has a market and the Maulana Azad Medical College," Sibal said. "The rights of people who are not part of a protest should not be affected," he said.
My arrest won't stop protest: Anna
In a CD relased by his team members after his arrest, Hazare urged people to carry on the fight against corruption through non-violent means.
"How can my arrest stop this agitation against corruption? My team will carry on the anti-corruption stir further and this fight will continue," he said.
"I appeal to the people to be non-violent and not damage any individual's or national property. Nobody should be hurt," Hazare urged. 
Team Anna is planning to move the Supreme Court against the arrests.
Protests in support of Hazare
The arrests fuelled massive support for Hazare, with IIT Kharagpur students planning to go on a hunger strike.
Residents of Hazare's village Ralegan Siddhi took to the streets in protest. Scores of people trooped out of their homes soon after news of the arrest of Hazare and his team members reached the village, about 230 km from Mumbai. 
There was a spontaneous shutdown in the village. Many villagers, including women, marched to the local Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation bus depot and raised slogans against the government.
While thousands of activists staged a march in Pune, a large number of protestors started a gathering near Dadar in Mumbai. An agitation is planned at Azad Maidan in Mumbai later on Tuesday where prominent activists, including Medha Patkar, are expected to congregate.
Massive protests were held at Delhi's Chhatrasal Stadium, where detained supporters of Hazare were brought.
Arrests rock Parliament
The arrests put the government on the backfoot in Parliament, with the Opposition demanding a statement by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
"We want prime minister's statement on the Anna issue. Otherwise, we will not allow Parliament to function," Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj said.
CPI-M leader Brinda Karat said: "The Congress is steeped in corruption, so it's only natural that it doesn't want to discuss it."
Later, Swaraj said the government was giving the same treatment to Hazare as was given to yoga guru Baba Ramdev.
Cops tried to persuade Anna
Union Home Secretary R.K. Singh said efforts were made in the morning to persuade Hazare to give up his proposed fast, but he refused to relent.
According to sources, senior police officials, including DCP (Crime) Ashok Chand, met with Hazare in the morning at an East Delhi apartment, where he was staying, in a bid to convince him to not go ahead with his planned protest defying prohibitory orders at J.P. Park.
Emergency is back, cries Bedi
Flaying the police move, Bedi said: "Emergency has revisited the country. This is undemocratic and unconstitutional," she said.
Around 500 supporters were with Anna at the time of his arrest. Chanting 'Bharat Mata ki jai' and 'Vande Matram', they created hurdles in the way of police personnel as they were trying to take him to a nearby police station.
Government has become dictatorial: Prashant Bhushan
Prashant Bhushan, a key civil society member of the joint Lokpal Bill draft committee, said: "The government has become dictatorial. Democratic rights are being infringed upon, which will lead to more anger among the people."
Anna arrest undemocratic: Ramdev
Baba Ramdev said the arrest of Anna Hazare was undemocratic.
Ahead of the proposed fast by the Gandhian, a group of people had thronged the East Delhi apartment where Hazare was staying to pledge their support to his protest. Security personnel, including some in plainclothes and some from the special branch, were deployed around the apartment premises.
Chetan Bhagat, Anupam Kher slam arrest
Author Chetan Bhagat said Hazare's arrest was a disastrous move by the government while actor Anupam Kher called it the saddest day for Indian democracy. Anupam Kher said, "Government has angered the common man."
PM holds CCPA meet
Prime Minister Manmohan  Singh held a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs to take stock of the situation.
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Home Minister P. Chidambaram and Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi met to chalk out government's and the party's response.  
After the Delhi Police denied him permission to hold his fast, Hazare had on Monday given a call to his supporters to fill up jails all over the country if he is arrested.
Addressing a press conference after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh slammed him for resorting to fast as a protest when Parliament was seized of the Lokpal bill, the Gandhian had said he will go to J.P. Park in Delhi on Tuesday, the venue of his fast, even though the Delhi Police imposed prohibitory orders.
"If I am arrested, I will continue my hunger strike in jail. If I am released, I will go back to the venue and this circle will continue," he said. Hazare said once he is arrested, people should fill up the jails in every village across the country. "Going to jail for the country is no crime...It is a decoration," he said.
The Delhi Police refused permission to Gandhian and his supporters, saying that Hazare's team refused to give an undertaking on restricting the number of days of protest and protesters besides four other conditions.
In his speech at the Red Fort on Monday morning, the prime minister decried Hazare going on fast and said Parliament alone will decide on Lokpal and those having grievances should approach Parliamentary Committees for airing their views.
Hazare sent to seven-day judicial custody
Anna Hazare was on Tuesday sent to seven days judicial custody in Tihar Jail.
"Anna Hazare denied to sign the personal bond and has been sent to seven days judicial custody in Tihar jail," said Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat.

"Hazare in same Tihar ward as Kalmadi; protests sweep India"

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Anna Hazare challenging the Constitution, says Pranab Mukherjee

 

Launching a broadside against Anna Hazare who has vowed to go on a fast from Tuesday over the Lokpal issue, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday alleged that the activist is "challenging" the Constitution and Parliament authority and such a step is "not acceptable".

"So far as the Constitution is concerned, it is the state authority to make laws and not a third authority. Nobody can be compelled that a law has to be drafted as per his or her desire. It is for Parliament to decide," Mukherjee told reporters here.

"And what Anna Hazare is doing is akin to challenging the constitutional authority of Parliament which is not acceptable," the finance minister said a day after Hazare, who had sought Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's intervention over the conditions imposed for his indefinite fast from August 16, was snubbed by the PM and told to approach the Delhi Police.

On Hazare's opposition to the restrictions on his proposed agitation, he said, "We have given a venue to Anna Hazare. It may or may not be liked by him. But the fact of the matter is there are certain places where we do not allow people to come and congregate like the Writers' Buildings (state secretariat in Kolkata) and the Assembly where (Section) 144 is imposed".

Reflecting the government's tough stand on the stir, Mukherjee said, "We shall have to keep in mind that in indefinite hunger strike, the legal connotation of which I do not know, nobody in our society as per our law is allowed to commit suicide. It is the responsibility of the administration to look into these aspects."

The Delhi Police had asked Hazare to limit his fast programme to three days and restrict the congregation to 5,000, which he criticised and even sought the Prime Minister's intervention into the issue.

Mukherjee said, "Parliament alone is the competent authority to make laws".

"Anna Hazare challenging the Constitution, says Pranab Mukherjee"

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