By Greg Donaldson
Impunity Watch, Asia
NEW DEHLI, India – In continuance of the battle between the Indian government and Anna Hazare, the seventy-four year old man was taken into custody by police Tuesday, just hours before the beginning of Hazare’s next hunger strike over the recently proposed anti-corruption bill.
Although Harzare’s public hunger strike was thwarted, Hazare began fasting in prison. Hazare’s has been relentless in protesting the bill, while some have defended the government’s actions calling Hazare’s protests dangerous and undemocratic.
Officers in plain clothes picked up Anna Hazare from a house in Delhi and drove him away in an unmarked car, fellow activist Akhil Gogoi told the AFP news agency. Police explained that Hazare was arrested because he intended to defy prohibitory orders.
Police had given Hazare regulations that had to be followed if a fast was to take place. Included in the list were: the fast should be limited to three days, no more than four to five hundred people were allowed to gather, and parking must exist for an unspecified number of vehicles.
Following Hazare’s arrest, many supporters rushed onto the streets to protest. India’s Home Minister P. Chidambaram responded telling reporters, “This government is not against democratic and peaceful protest. But that right must be exercised subject to conditions laid down by authorities charged with the duty of keeping law and order and public peace.”
Tuesday evening government officials ordered Hazare to be released from prison. However, Hazare refused because his discharge would be contingent upon him agreeing to abide by government regulations during future protests.
Feeling pressure from the world and a peaceful march, which included over ten thousand people, the government was willing to strike a deal with Hazare.
Hazare’s arrest and the march dominated the local television news networks capturing how citizens feel about the current leadership of the country spurring the government to act.
Wednesday evening one of Mr. Hazare’s aides, Kiran Bedi, announced via Twitter that Mr. Hazare had accepted a police offer to limit any hunger strike and mass demonstration in New Delhi to 15 days.
The protest would be staged at the city’s Ramlila grounds, and the Indian news media reported that the authorities had relented on Mr. Hazare’s demand that no limits be placed on the number of people allowed to attend.
Because of the expected crowd size the protest was delayed until Friday so adequate preparations could be made. However, participants began arriving on Thursday. Many have purchased apparel which reads “I Am Anna.”
City workers began to repair the Ramlila grounds, which had been damaged by the recent rain storms. Metal detectors were placed at entry points, sound systems were prepared, mattresses were laid out to sit on, and a huge tent was built.
Over fifty thousand people attended the event on Sunday. Protesters chanted “Anna, you keep fighting, we are with you.” Hazare has not eaten since his arrest Tuesday and only drinks water in protest. A medical team is on site to monitor Hazare’s health.
Hazare is demanding that his anti-corruption bill be introduced to parliament on Tuesday and be passed by the end of the month. Hazare says if the bill is not passed by the end of the month then there will be an “unprecedented revolution” in the country by the people. “The government will have to either get the Bill passed (in Parliament) or go,” Hazare said on Sunday.
However, Hazare’s boldness has come under criticism. Critics point out that Hazare is attempting to dictate policy to an elected parliament.
One of the major points of contention surrounding the bill is whether or not the prime minister can be investigated for corruption.
Hazare demands that the prime minister fall under the umbrella of the bill, while the government says if the prime minister were to be investigated, the government would be shaken.
Hazare’s counter-argument is if the prime minister is corrupt and no investigation is done, then the danger to the country would be far greater.
Aruna Roy, leader of the National Campaign for People’s Right to Information (NCPRI) and one of India’s most famous social activists, described Hazare’s recent actions as “ill-advised.”
She explained “We must assert our rights. But to get rid of these institutions would be a great disaster for all the people in this country. We must make these democratic institutions work for us and they must work for us.” Roy continued, “anyone who says my view should be the only view is wrong.”
Since Roy’s remarks Hazare and his supporters have appeared to reduce their demands from absolute passage of the bill to negotiations. Arvind Kejriwal, a man close to Hazare, told supporters, “we are in favor of discussion, we want to ask the prime minister whom should we come to talk to, and when and where.”
The government has begun to show signs of compromise as Prime Minister Singh said he was open to dialogue about the bill. Furthermore, a majority party lawmaker has sent Hazare’s bill to a parliamentary committee for consideration.
Hazare plans to continue his protest throughout this week.
For more information, please see:
DNA — Congress paralysed in face of Hazare-tsunami – 21 August 2011
Reuters — Under pressure, Anna Hazare may tone down demands – 21 August 2011
The Times of India — ‘Anna shouldn’t undermine democratic institutions’— 21 August 2011
The Times of India — Give us our Lokpal Bill or quit: Anna warns government – 21 August 2011
New York Times — Indian Anticorruption Leader to Leave Jail – 18 August 2011
The Times of India — Won’t back down till Lokpal Bill is passed, says Anna Hazare – 18 August 2011
The Times of India — Anna Hazare escalates war with govt, refuses to leave Tihar Jail – 17 August 2011
BBC – India anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare detained – 16 August 2011
