Mumbai:
The Bombay High Court has said Anna Hazare and his activists have no right to seek a discounted rate for the city's MMRDA Ground as a venue for their three-day protest, which starts on Tuesday. However, Team Anna will now foot a bill of seven lakhs, as opposed to the 18 lakhs that was earlier quoted. That's because the activists have managed to get a special rate reserved for "special cause" demonstrations. Anna says he will ask supporters to donate to the cause.
Before that, however, it was a tough day for Anna's aides in court. "The court cannot decide whether the agitation is in public and national interest or politically motivated," said the two judges hearing the case. Anna later said that had his representatives in Mumbai checked with him, he would have advised them not to seek legal help for a cheaper venue. "I would have told them don't go to court...we will manage on our own...court is not the right place to bring this up. And if they don't give us any venue, I will fast in jail," he said this evening in his hometown of Ralegan Siddhi.
Team Anna was originally told it would have to pay close to 18 lakh rupees for MMRDA Ground - commercial rates applied because their application was made through an NGO that was not officially registered as a trust. They've now fixed that, and their revised application has been accepted. "MMRDA Ground officials originally said the venue would cost us 18 lakhs...I said we can't spend that much money. Now I am told it will be seven lakhs and people say they will donate. We will not accept cash. A cheque or draft is fine," said Anna.
Anna's protest camp will be headlined by his hunger strike which starts on December 27, as Parliament debates the new anti-corruption Lokpal Bill which he has diagnosed as toothless and "a betrayal of the people." His aides said his camp would be devoted to championing a public cause - an argument the court rejected.
"If we pass an order allowing your petition then even we will be interfering with the functioning of Parliament," said the judges. "Is public debate permissible at this stage? Under which law are you (petitioner) asking for exemption? It might be
satyagraha for you but for some other factions it might be a nuisance," they said.
(Read what Bombay High Court told Team Anna) Amid reports that the Delhi Police has granted permission to use the capital's Ramlila Grounds, the Bombay High Court asked why Anna doesn't move his protest there. "Delhi is not an option because of the cold weather and you have to respect his (Hazare) age of 74. Not only Anna but there would be many others who would fast with him and people will stay back," said his close aide, activist Kiran Bedi.
The Bombay High Court also refused to help Team Anna with their Plan B - Azad Maidan, which the government offers free of charge for all public protests, was ruled out because it can hold 3000 people. The Mumbai Police expects Anna to draw about 30,000 people a day. The Maharashtra government refused Team Anna permission to use a part of Azad Maidan that's usually reserved for sports events and tournaments.
(Read: Maharashtra state sports department denies permission to Team Anna) And then the court refused to over-rule the government.
This is Anna's fourth hunger strike this year to galvanize public support for a strong new law that will help disinfect government officials and departments from graft. His fast will segue into a civil disobedience or
Jail-bharo movement.
(Read: Team Anna opens registration for jail bharo) Then, he says, he will campaign against the Congress in the five states including Uttar Pradesh that are headed for elections. "The people will show the government," he said. "The national elections are only two years away. We will continue the campaign against anyone who does not support a strong Lokpal bill."
His 12-day protest and fast in August, and the support that encompassed it and lifted it into an international headline, left the government winded. Parliament agreed to consider three guiding principles laid out by Anna for the Lokpal Bill, which will create a new national ombudsman of nine members to investigate charges of corruption against government servants. This month, Anna said that if Parliament does not pass an effective bill during this session, he will hold a fast, a
jail bharo agitation, and campaign against the Congress in states headed to elections. While maintaining that Anna's deadline had no bearing on its decision, the government led the initiative to extend this Parliament session by three days to debate the Bill and vote on it. Yesterday, when the bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha, politicians seemed hostile to Anna's diktat.
(Read: Lokpal Bill tabled in Lok Sabha) One after another, they urged the government not to let Anna hold the legislative process to ransom. The supremacy of Parliament cannot be questioned, they asserted. "Tell Anna not to fast and look after his health", said Bihar's Lalu Prasad Yadav in a speech that was unsparing of the activist. Gurudas Dasgupta of the CPI added, "There is no single crusader against corruption. Please don't be afraid of another hunger strike."