30 July,2011 06:29 AM IST | | Atul Krishan
Department asks Anna Hazare-led civil society activists to send fresh application mentioning specific date, time and details of their demonstration slated to begin on August 16
Delhi Police on Friday denied permission to veteran social activist Anna Hazare to hold an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on August 16.
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Anna Hazare, along with Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi and
Swami Agnivesh, demanding enactment of Jan Lokpal Bil in New Delhi
The department, in its letter to Hazare, said that as Parliament would be in session, no group could be allowed to capture the entire space at Jantar Mantar, as many groups come out for protests during that period.
"So far his date and time are indefinite and we can't give him permission," said Rajan Bhagat, Delhi Police spokesperson.
Hazare has announced that he will sit on an indefinite fast here from August 16 demanding the withdrawal of the government's Lokpal Bill, in a replay of his protest at Jantar Mantar in early April advocating for a strong Lokpal to fight corruption in high places.
Anna earlier wanted to start his protest at Jantar Mantar but now Delhi Police has asked him to move to Burari Ground or outside the Capital.
A senior police official said that around 16 days ago Anna's men approached the department with an application requesting permission to sit on fast at Jantar Mantar which was pending till yesterday.
Order, order
"Protest and Dharna have been banned for the next 42 days and so Anna will have to protest on the outskirts or outside the Capital.
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Police have suggested that he organizes his demonstration at Burari Ground if he wants. But for this he will have to give us exact date and time," said the senior police official.
Team Anna has met Delhi Police officials several times seeking permission in this respect. They also have met officials of the Home Ministry.
Delhi Police has cited a 2009 order of the Supreme Court and has said that they cannot give permission for indefinite dharna anywhere in Delhi including in Jantar Mantar as Parliament would be in session beginning August 1.
On Thursday, charging the government of bringing a fractured Lokpal Bill, Hazare had said in Maharashtra's Ralegaon Siddi town that he would protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on August 16.
"The entire country will protest with me at Jantar Mantar on August 16...This is not Hazare's protest but the entire country's.
The people need to look at this as a second fight for their freedom and they should all come out on the streets," Hazare said.
Eyewash?
Terming the Lok Pal Bill approved by the Union Cabinet as "eyewash", activist Arvind Kejriwal said it will "patronise" corruption and should be withdrawn.
"The Bill approved by the Cabinet is to patronise corruption and an eyewash and should be withdrawn... It betrays the aspirations and expectations of people fighting against corruption," Kejriwal told reporters.
The government, he said, seemed to be in "grip of the corrupt."
"There is no provision in the bill to tackle scandals like mining, CWG, Adarsh Society, and the cash-for-vote scam," he said.
The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved the official draft of the Lokpal Bill and trashed the key proposals moved by Anna's team.
The bill provides for the establishment of the institution of Lokpal to inquire into allegations of corruption against certain public functionaries and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
