New Delhi:
The Prime Minister conceded to the demands of a united Opposition and made a statement this morning in Parliament on Anna Hazare's arrest. "It is my painful duty to report on the events of yesterday," Dr Manmohan Singh said. He stressed that the Delhi Police "had no choice" but to arrest Mr Hazare and that while his government "acknowledges the right of citizens to hold peaceful protests," conditions imposed by the police have to be observed.
"Our government does not seek any confrontation with any section of the society. But when some sections of society deliberately challenge the authority of the Government and the prerogative of Parliament, it is the bounden duty of the Government to maintain peace and tranquility," said the PM.
(Read full text of the PM's statement)The Opposition protested loudly, indicating that the government's Anna crisis is escalating. Mr Hazare himself has refused to leave Tihar Jail, where he was moved last evening.
The 74-year-old Gandhian was arrested in Delhi yesterday in the morning for stating that he would defy prohibitory orders by trying to hold a protest at JP Park in Delhi. He was taken to Tihar Jail around 4 pm, after he refused to give an undertaking that he would not hold his planned protest. After much public criticism in the form of demonstrations and candlelight vigils in support of Mr Hazare, the Delhi Police decided last night to release Mr Hazare.
However, he has refused, stating that he will not leave Tihar till he is promised in writing that the government will not force any conditions upon him for his hunger strike and demonstration against corruption.
"Those who believe that their voice and their voice alone represents the will of 1.2 billion people should reflect deeply on that position. They must allow the elected representatives of the people in Parliament to do the job that they were elected for," Dr Singh said.
Hundreds of supporters are waiting outside Tihar Jail for Mr Hazare. The Left, BJP and other opposition parties like Mulayam Singh Yadav's Samajwadi Party (SP) warned yesterday that they would not allow parliament to function till the PM explained the government's action against Mr Hazare. The BJP stressed that while the party may not agree with Mr Hazare's charter of demands, his arrest amounts to "a murder of democracy."
The PM in the Lok Sabha explained in detail the chain of events that preceded Mr Hazare's arrest including negotiations between the Delhi Police and Mr Hazare's team for the protest they were planning in Delhi. The PM reiterated what the government said in its defense all day yesterday as public protests swelled in the streets -"Mr Hazare and his supporters would have been allowed to hold their protests if they had accepted the conditions." The police wanted Mr Hazare to limit his hunger strike to three days and his supporters to 5,000.
At the centre of Mr Hazare's battle with the government is the Lokpal Bill, introduced recently in Parliament, which is aimed at combating corruption among politicians and bureaucrats. Mr Hazare says the government's Bill is designed to protect politicians from investigation for corruption. The activist's team has developed its own version, referred to as the Jan Lokpal Bill (the people's Lokpal Bill). A fast by Mr Hazare in April established him as the icon of middle class India's frustration with seemingly-ubiquitous corruption. Unnerved by the public support for him, the government invited Mr Hazare and four of his nominees to form half of a drafting committee for the Lokpal Bill. Five ministers were also on the committee. The marriage was filled with angst; and both sides finally declared they could not agree on a Bill. Hence, two versions of the Lokpal Bill.
In Parliament, the government has chosen to introduce its version, angering Mr Hazare, who wanted his draft to also be considered.
"The question is who drafts the law and who makes the law," said the PM. "The path chosen by Shree Hazare to impose his draft upon Parliament is misconceived," he added. The Opposition has said it does not accept the government's stand that Mr Hazare's attempt to challenge the Lokpal Bill is an undermining of Parliamentary democracy.