Government Buckles under Pressure, Anna to be Released
Update: 8.50 pm
New Delhi, Aug 16: Under heavy pressure from the opposition, political parties and the public across the country, the UPA government has buckled and decided to release anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare from Tihar jail.
"We have sent the release warrant of Anna Hazare and his supporters," Delhi police PRO Rajan Bhagat said.
Hazare was arrested earlier on Tuesday August 16 and sent to Tihar jail when he refused to sign a bail bond. In the morning the same day, he was detained hours before his fast at JP Park here demanding a strong Lokpal Bill.
Following the detention, the opposition BJP condemned the government for its move and Hazare's supporters across the country rose in protest.
Hazare's companions Arvind Kejriwal and others too were sent to Tihar.
However, the police have not said when Anna Hazare would be released.
Anna sent to Tihar Jail, protests engulf India
Update at 6.20 pm
New Delhi, Aug 16 (IANS): Civil society activist Anna Hazare was Tuesday arrested and sent to Tihar Jail as Delhi Police moved to stop his fast-unto-death to press for a strong anti-corruption Lokpal Bill, triggering swathes of unrest across the country and pitting the government against not just the opposition but also large sections of the public.
Hazare, 74, was detained early Friday and later arrested and sent to prison to seven days judicial custody. His associates Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi and Shanti Bhushan were also detained with about 1,400 supporters all across the capital.
"Anna Hazare refused to sign a personal bond and has been sent to seven days judicial custody," Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat told reporters, describing it as a preventive arrest.
The opposition went on the warpath to demand Hazare's release. As the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said the move smacked of the excesses during Emergency and parliament was stalled, the outrage spread across the country, with reports of protests coming in from virtually every corner.
Hazare and Kejriwal were whisked away as they stepped out of an apartment in east Delhi on their way to the J.P. Park where police had clamped prohibitory orders and where the activists were planning to set the stage for their strike against the government's version of the bill that keeps the prime minister, judiciary and junior officials out of its ambit.
Hazare's supporters, who had gathered in hundreds in the apartment complex, shouted anti-government slogans and lauded the anti-corruption crusader who had gone on a hunger strike in April.
Just before his arrest, Hazare said in a recorded video message: "Don't let my arrest stop this movement. This is the nation's second struggle for freedom."
As news of his arrest spread, thousands took to the streets in Delhi, denouncing the government and hailing Hazare. The biggest gathering took place at the Chattrashal Stadium in north Delhi. Major protests were also reported in Delhi University, outside the Tihar Jail, and on the street leading from Rajghat to J.P. Park.
Security forces had a tough time handling the crowds.
Protests also gripped many states including Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa where people trooped out of their homes to voice their anger. Many shopkeepers downed shutters.
In India's financial capital Mumbai, thousands gathered at various places.
"We are also requesting supporters to strike work tomorrow and support Annaji," a volunteer for India Against Corruption said.
Celebrities too stepped in to verbalise their distress. Lyricist Javed Akhtar said: "I have had certain reservations about Anna's method but his arrest cannot be condoned. It is undemocratic, unacceptable."
The ripple effect was widespread.
"In a democracy, one has the right to protest in a peaceful manner. By detaining Hazare, the government is depriving the citizens of their constitutional rights," said P.K. Garg, a retired professor in Lucknow.
As the protests spread, the government attempted to clarify its position and said Delhi Police was not acting under political pressure and had made the detentions because Team Hazare had refused to agree to certain terms.
"If someone says we will defy the orders, I think this is unacceptable in a democracy," said Home Minister P. Chidambaram. "It is a real regret that police have taken this action."
The crisis for the government comes soon after the clampdown on a protest by yoga guru Ramdev on June 5.
The opposition was quick to seize the opportunity.
BJP president Nitin Gadkari and the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), neither of which agree fully with Hazare, called for demonstrations across the country Wednesday.
"This government is bent upon crushing anyone who wants to protest against corruption," BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said.
The CPI-M said Hazare's detention and the police ban on his hunger strike showed how "the Congress leadership is intolerant to any anti-corruption movement as its government is steeped in high-level corruption".
The volatile situation was set to snowball further with protests planned through the day. Using SMS messages, twitter and television, Hazare supporters called for people to gather in protest.
Anna Receives Widespread Support – BJP Condemns Government
Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi (SP)
Updates at 11.45am
New Delhi, Aug 16: Anna Hazare’s crusade against corruption is getting popular support in almost all the states. The opposition including the BJP and the Samajwadi Party raised questions about Anna’s arrest in the Lok Sabha and demanded his release. Former minister, Arun Jaitley, who termed the action as murder of democracy, wanted to know the grounds for Anna’s arrest, alleging that Hazare was not told by the policemen why he was being detained. However, the Lok Sabha witnessed turbulence as the speaker refused to suspend question hour to pave way for discussions on Anna Hazare’s fast. In Rajya Sabha too, the issue hogged limelight. The home ministry is likely to make a statement in the Rajya Sabha on the issue later in the day.
Protestors have also been observing a symbolic one-day dharna at Freedom Park Bangalore. Former Lokayukta, Justice Santosh Hegde, was one of the participants of the dharna. The dharna is led by an organization named ‘India Against Corruption’, which is also holding such protests all over the country. In Pune, the protestors took out a march, while in Mumbai, people in large numbers, began gathering near Dadar. The main programme of protest is planned at Azad Maidan in Mumbai later today. Leading supporters of the movement including Medha Patkar, are expected to address this gathering.
A number of demonstrations by people from various walks of life were held at Lucknow in favour of Anna Hazare. These protests were held at places like Gomti Nagar, Aliganj and Vikas Nagar. The protestors held aloft the national flag and chanted Bhajans and patriotic songs. Many protestors voiced their anger at the union government’s action in muffling the voices of peaceful protestors. However, information and broadcasting minister, Ambika Soni, in support of the government, said it is impossible to ensure peace and order when thousands of protestors assemble at one place.
Residents of Gandhian activist, Anna Hazare's village, Ralegan Siddhi in Maharashtra, flocked out of their homes to support their leader. Protests and demonstration were also reported from various places of Maharashtra. Shops and establishments in Ralegan Siddhi downed their shutters voluntary to pledge solidarity with Anna. The people of the village including women went in a procession to the depot of Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation, where they raised slogans against the government.
In the morning, NDA leaders met at L K Advani’s residence to take stock of the situation and chalk out future course of action in view of arrest of Anna Hazare and other activists.
The cabinet committee on political affairs is slated to meet later in the day. There is a call from Anna Hazare group to switch of lights of houses between 8 and 9 pm today to show solidarity with Anna’s initiatives. Candle light marches have also been planned at various places across the country. Prashant Bhushan has said that a petition is being moved in the Supreme Court later today.
Second Freedom Struggle has Begun: Anna Hazare
Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi (SP)
Update: 10.30 am
New Delhi, Aug 16: Soon after he was detained by the Delhi police on Tuesday August 16, hours ahead of his fast demanding a strong Lokpal Bill at JP Park here, anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare proclaimed that his detention was the the beginning of 'a second freedom struggle.'
He called upon the people and especially his supporters to take up a 'jail bharo' movement and court arrest across the country.
"My dear countrymen, second freedom struggle has begun and now I have also been arrested. But will this movement be stopped by my arrest. No not at all. Don't let it happen," he said.
"Time has come my countrymen when there should be no place left in jails in India to accommodate any more persons."
He also asked them to maintain peace and not resort to violence.
"I once again request my fellow countrymen that peace should be maintained and there must be no violence," he said.
Ahead of Fast, Delhi Police Detain Anna Hazare
New Delhi, Aug 16: Taking cognizance of the defiant stand taken by revolutionary Gandhian, Anna Hazare, to undertake fast as announced earlier in the country’s capital, the policemen took him into custody from his residence. He was taken to an unknown destination. Anna’s supporters like Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi, Prashant Bhushan and Manish Sisodia were also taken into preventive custody.
The policemen took this extreme step, after failing to convince Anna Hazare not to defy prohibitory orders, and to withdraw his fasting plan. Deputy commissioner of police (crime), Ashok Chand, had met Anna on Monday morning in this connection.
Anna has already declared that he would go ahead with his proposed fast unto death, even if he is arrested. He exhorted people to show their preference to getting jailed instead of having to live with corruption and injustice. Speaking on Monday, he said that the government was right in claiming that the country’s parliament was supreme. At the same time, he said it was the duty of the government to move a bill that is right and potent, and has teeth to deal with rampant corruption in high offices.
In a statement made near Raj Ghat here, Kiran Bedi said she feels that being behind the bars is a better option as compared to having restricted freedom. She pledged to continue to fight alongside Anna Hazare, till the aim of driving away corruption from the country is achieved. She said Anna had asked the policemen the details of charges levelled against him, but he was merely informed that they had been instructed to arrest him by their higher ups.
Taking umbrage at the government action, scores of people gathered near the J P Park here and raised slogans against the government.
Former Karnataka Lokayukta and staunch supporter of causes for which Anna is fighting for, Justice Santosh Hegde, charged the central government of owning oppressive tactics against peaceful protestors to steamroll them. Noted legal luminary and member of Anna Hazare group, Prashant Bhushan, said the team will move court against the above action of the government. He is determined to file a petition in the court today. He predicted that people will come to streets in protest against the disdainful action of the union government, and that the government will find it impossible to quell the protests.
Hundreds of people visited Anna at his residence on Monday, to show solidarity with his proposed plan of agitation. A number of people shouted slogans hailing the initiative undertaken by Anna, outside his apartment. A large contingent of policemen was present to handle undue incidents if any. The city police, in addition to deploying about 500 policemen at the spot since Monday morning, also enforced section 144 around the place where the protest was planned to be held.