Anna Hazare’s arrest sparks off angry protests, both Houses adjourned

The HinduAnna Hazare's supporters block traffic after the social activist was detained in New Delhi on Tuesday.

In an early morning swoop the Delhi Police picked up social activist Anna Hazare from his residence here just as he was preparing to leave for Gandhi Samadhi at Rajghat ahead of his fast at JP park to press for a strong anti-corruption Lokpal Bill.

"Second freedom struggle"

"This is the second fight for freedom and this movement will not halt now,’’ said Mr Hazare as he was whisked away with several supporters trying to stop the vehicle that carried him to officers’ mess at civil lines. He was later sent to Tihar jail after he reportedly refused to offer surety for his bail before a magistrate.

"We have orders from higher up,’’ said the detaining officer when Mr Hazare asked him what his crime was. Team Hazare was denied permission to stage his indefinite fast and prohibitory orders were imposed at the venue after they refused to comply with all the riders imposed by the police.

The arrest sparked off angry, widespread protests with reports of people courting arrests from different parts of the country and opposition parties slamming the move as an attack on democratic and civil rights of citizens.

Both the houses of Parliament were adjourned over the issue.

Along with Mr. Hazare, other key members of the India Against Corruption movement including Arvind Kejriwal, Shanti Bhushan, Kiran Bedi and Manish Sisodia were also detained from different venues. About 1300 supporters were detained in Delhi alone.

In a terse statement made to the press, Home Secretary R.K. Singh said Mr Hazare was detained because he said he was going to defy prohibitory orders.

With opposition parties and activists likening government the action to the emergency imposed in the country in 1975, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee came before the media to say that while everyone had the right to protest, if the police perceives a law and order situation, it can impose conditions. Union Ministers P. Chidambaram, Kapil Sibal and Ambika Soni also addressed the media to express similar views.

Attack on democratic rights: Brinda

Blasting the government, CPI (M) leader Brinda Karat said the detentions were an attack on democratic rights of people which the government should re-consider. ``We totally reject the argument that because the Lokpal Bill was in Parliament, there can be no protests on it. If it is so, then even the Women’s Reservation Bill is before Parliament and there are so many protests over it. Did the government accuse them even once as it has Anna Hazare?’’

Terming it as a ``sad day’’ for India democracy, BJP leader Arun Jaitley the move shows that the UPA is a government in panic and has over-reacted. ``Do a group of citizens who disagree with the government have the right to protest and dissent or not or have we abandoned civil rights and the right to protest in this country?’’

"Rehearsal of emergency"

In Patna, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar described Mr Hazare’s detention as ``murder of democracy’’ and said it was a "rehearsal of emergency’’ which the people will never tolerate.

Addressing a joint press conference, lawyer Prashant Bhushan said he was going to move the Supreme Court against the action, while Swami Agnivesh called upon the government to withdraw the ``repressive measures’’ and hold a dialogue with the civil society group.

Activist Medha Patkar said while there were several movements as theirs under the banner of the National Alliance of People’s Movements, but Anna Hazare had come to be a representative of all anti-corruption struggles. She said to say that the Bill was before Parliament and therefore there should be no protests on this was wrong. "After all, it was Parliament that passed the Bill on setting up Special Economic Zones.’’

Baba Ramdev, whose demonstration against corruption was lathi-charged by the Delhi Police in June, said this government was ``dictatorial, cruel and manipulative’’.

Anna Hazare supporters court arrest near the Pragati Madain Metro station in New Delhi on Tuesday. Photo: Sandeep Saxena

Team Anna to be released tonight

Anna Hazare and his associates will be released on Tuesday night from Tihar Jail after police decided to withdraw its case against them.

Delhi Police sources said that warrants of release have been sent to Tihar Jail authorities for freeing Mr. Hazare and his seven associates who were held on Tuesday morning ahead of their plans to launch an indefinite strike for a strong Lokpal.

The sources said the decision to release was taken after the government came to the conclusion that keeping him in jail would create unnecessary law and order situation.

Tihar jail sources said that all the eight had been kept in separate lock ups and would be freed soon.

Mr. Hazare and his associates had refused to take food during their detention under judicial remand.

Earlier in the day, Mr Hazare was sent to seven days’ judicial custody after he refused to sign a personal bond and come out on bail following his arrest.

Three other leading activists of the team Mr. Hazare — Kiran Bedi, Arvind Kejriwal and Manoj Sisodia — were also sent to judicial custody on similar grounds. Noted lawyer Shanti Bhushan was also among those arrested.

Mr. Hazare, who was arrested in the morning on grounds of apprehension of breach of peace following his intention to defy prohibitory orders to go on an indefinite hunger strike, was produced before a Special Executive Magistrate.

Delhi Police Commissioner B.K. Gupta told a press conference that the police was not keen that he should be sent to judicial custody.

Mr. Gupta said the police was prepared for his being released on a personal bond if the Gandhian would have given an undertaking that he will not defy Section 144 of the CrPC that prohibits gathering of five or more people and also ask his supporters not to do so.

Sources said since Mr. Hazare refused to give an undertaking, the Magistrate remanded him to a seven-day judicial custody.

Mr. Hazare was taken to Jail No. 4 in Tihar Central Prison where he will be lodged for the next seven days. Mr. Kejriwal, Ms. Bedi and Mr. Sisodia were lodged in Jail No. 1.

Hundreds of supporters gathered outside Tihar jail after Mr. Hazare and his associates were taken inside the prison.