New Delhi, Aug 25 (PTI): Delhi Police today sought a fresh undertaking from one of the prominent members of erstwhile Team Anna to allow their dharna here on the coal allocation issue while warning them against gheraoing the residences of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and BJP chief Nitin Gadkari.
In an indirect rejection of application for staging a dharna at Jantar Mantar tomorrow, Additional Commissioner (New Delhi) K C Dwivedi said police need a fresh undertaking from "such office bearer" who can exercise control over everyone participating in the protest.
The letter by Dwivedi dated August 23 was made public today on the Facebook page of India Against Corruption.
Erstwhile Team Anna had announced gherao of the residences of the Prime Minister and Gadkari and sought permission for a dharna at Jantar Mantar tomorrow through a letter by IAC activist Neeraj Kumar.
In the letter to Kumar, Dwivedi said, they had come to know about gherao of residences of Singh and Gadkari through media and these localities are placed under prohibitory orders.
"Violation of its provisions will attract legal action and will be against the conditions of the undertaking to be furnished by the organiser. It is, therefore, incumbent upon you to advise your organisation to desist from indulging in any unlawful act which may disturb law and order," he said.
Citing seven violations during their previous protest at Jantar Mantar for which Kumar gave an undertaking, Dwivedi said their past experiences shows that they cannot rely on his assurances as he was not able to direct the actions of leaders and participants as per the conditions of the undertaking.
"...it is imperative that the undertaking is furnished by such office bearer of your organisation who can exercise control over everyone participating in the proposed dharna," he said.
The letter said Kumar, who gave the undertaking for the protest from July 25 to August three, could not control the speakers or participants.
As against the undertaking, Dwivedi said the protesters had then occupied the entire Jantar Mantar Road resulting in closure of traffic for days together while participants staged fast on roads and marched to India Gate on July 29 without permission.
The letter also noted that people staged protests outside the residences of Prime Minister and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar in contravention of the undertaking given by Kumar.
It also noted that another team member Shazia Ilmi "gave a call" to protesters at India Gate to gherao and lay siege the Prime Minister's residence which created a "riotous" situation. A case has been registered in this connection.
Another point which police found was the opening of an open flame kitchen for preparing and distributing food to the supporters at the venue. "This could have endangered lives of the people present at Jantar Mantar Road," the letter said.
The letter also said the fasting activists Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and others did not heed to the instructions for medical intervention.