Anna stays put in Tihar, support surges

Hazare fasted for the second day as thousands gathered outside the jail and took out a march from India Gate to Jantar Mantar

Anna stays put in Tihar, support surges

Hazare fasted for the second day as thousands gathered outside the jail and took out a march from India Gate to Jantar Mantar

Protests across the city continued for the second consecutive day on Wednesday against the arrest of social activist Anna Hazare. Many supporters have been waiting for his release outside the Tihar Jail since Tuesday evening. Several rounds of talks between Team Anna and senior Delhi police officials failed as the Gandhian refused to budge to conditional approval of the protest.

Thousands throng India Gate in support of Anna (click for more images)

By the end of the day, Delhi Police had withdrawn virtually all pre-conditions for the hunger strike by Anna Hazare and his team. Delhi Police agreed to relax six of the 22 conditions for the social activist to hold his indefinite fast against the government version of the Lokpal Bill.

"We have relaxed six conditions on which Team Anna had objected. We have given permission for seven days which can be extended," said Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat.

He said the venue of the fast has been shifted from JP Park to Ramlila Ground in central Delhi. There would also be no limit on the number of people gathering at the venue or the number of vehicles parked at the site, the police said.

The hard bargaining came on a day when government came under renewed attack in Parliament over Hazare's arrest and rallies and protests across the country, including a huge procession from India Gate to Parliament House.

On a day of now-on and now-off announcements, social activists Swami Agnivesh and Medha Patkar told cheering crowd of supporters in the morning that Hazare would come out of the jail anytime and they should be prepared to go to JP Park in a peaceful manner.

However, Hazare, who continued his fast for the second day, seemed to have had other plans when he called close associates Kiran Bedi, Prashant Bhushan and Manish Sisodia and discussed the strategy. Bedi came out and announced to the crowds that consultations were on and Hazare was not coming out.

Late night drama
Meanwhile, starting at around 11.30 pm, two ambulances arrived at Tihar Jail, causing chaos. Anna supporters claimed it was a government gimmick to prove Anna was sick. However, the vehicles were sent back. Till last reports came in Hazare was still at Tihar. Also, Team Anna held a late night meeting with Police Commissioner BK Gupta, the details of which they refused to divulge with the media at that point, saying that the final call would have to be taken by Anna. Sources said, a 14-day deadline for the fast has been proposed.