Indian spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, left, calls on India’s most prominent anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare inside the Tihar prison complex where Hazare is holding his hunger strike in New Delhi on Wednesday. (AP Photo)
New Delhi, August 17 (PTI): Hectic negotiations were on Wednesday night to break the logjam in Tihar jail from where Anna Hazare has refused to come out despite government climbing down on issues like the venue and period of protest over which it had earlier put stiff conditions. There were reports that agreement was reached between the two sides on the venue where Hazare could hold his indefinite fast — shifted from JP Park to more spacious Ramlila maidan — but by evening the negotiations were said to be stuck on the number of days he would be allowed to stage his protest.
Senior Delhi Police officials were in discussions with team Anna as Mr. Hazare was in Tihar jail till late in the evening and the civil society activists were said to be insisting on being allowed to stage his fast for a stronger Lokpal for a longer period than the seven days that Police was inclined to allow him. Highly placed sources said all members of the Hazare team were agreeable to the seven days limit with a rider that the situation could be reviewed everyday thereafter but one activist -- Arvind Kejriwal -- was not agreeable to it.
Another close associate of Mr. Hazare, Kiran Bedi, admitted as much when she told crowds outside the Tihar jail that negotiations were still on and Hazare was unlikely to come out anytime soon. Through Delhi Police, the government is understood to have conveyed to Mr. Hazare’s team that Police would no longer insist on restrictions on the number of people which could attend the fast and movement of people.
Earlier in the day there were strong indications that Mr. Hazare, who started his fast yesterday morning and was continuing with it in jail, could walk out during the day. Activists Swami Agnivesh and Medha Patkar had told cheering supporters outside the jail that the social activist would be in their amidst shortly and that they should be prepared to go to JP Park, the original preferred venue for the fast, in a peaceful manner. However, it was not to be with reports coming from inside that team Anna kept escalating the bargain making it clear that there should be no limit on the period of his fast or the number of people that can gather at the venue.
In between, the Police, which had arrested him on Tuesday on apprehension of breach of peace, agreed to the shift of venue to Ramlila maidan where cleaning up operation has already begun. It was at this venue, a protest campaign against blackmoney by Yoga guru Ramdev in early June was foiled by Police. The stand-off continued even as government came under renewed attack in Parliament from Opposition parties after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made a statement in both the Houses.
Team Anna, police close to agreement
New Delhi, August 17 (IANS): Team Anna and the Delhi Police were close to an agreement on the number of days for Anna Hazare's fast to push for a strong Lokpal Bill, police sources said late Wednesday. According to Delhi Police sources, as per a new agreement, Hazare has been given three weeks to stage the protest. Earlier, the police had given him seven days, which was extendable, while Team Hazare was demanding a month.
"We want one month, but the government (is) giving us less number of days," Kiran Bedi, a key confidante of Hazare, had earlier told reporters outside Tihar Jail where Hazare is. The 74-year-old has refused to leave the jail even after being released till his demand for continuing his fast without conditions is met. The original fast venue of J.P. Park had been ruled out due to lack of space and the Delhi Police had agreed to the protest at the Ramlila Ground. The police have relaxed six of the sticking conditions, including its bar on the number of people and cars.
