New Delhi, Aug 16 (IANS): Every citizen has the right to protest and the government is not against protests per se but the manner of protests, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said Tuesday.
"Everyone has the right to protest but there is a method of protesting," Mukherjee told reporters here.
"It is the legitimate right of every individual to hold protests but at the same time there are certain rules and laws.
"If police considers that a particular action may lead to law and order problem, then police can impose certain conditions," he added.
Mukherjee made the comments after civil society activist Anna Hazare was detained here Tuesday morning as he was about to set out for his hunger strike in support of a strong Lokpal Bill.
"In a free country everybody has a right to protest but there is a way," he added.