New Delhi, Aug 17 (IANS): The government had a "bounden duty" to maintain peace, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Wednesday, a day after Gandhian activist Anna Hazare was arrested ahead of his planned fast-unto-death for a more powerful Lokpal Bill.

Accepting the demand of the opposition, the prime minister made a statement in the Lok Sabha on the arrest and subsequent release of Hazare. Hazare refused to be released and continued to be inside Tihar Jail Wednesday morning.

Manmohan Singh was constantly heckled by the opposition and at several times had to pause in the reading out of the statement.

Detailing the reasons that led to Delhi Police arresting him, the prime minister said he "sincerely hoped that the incidents of yesterday will not be repeated".

He appealed for the smooth functioning of parliament and said important legislations needed to be passed. If that were not done, it would be an injustice to the people of India.