If Anna Hazare’s arrest was a preventive measure, then why the corrupt people are not arrested as a preventive measure for the people of India.
Making a statement in the Lok Sabha today, he said that the social activist was detained because he and his team refused to abide by certain conditions laid down by the Delhi police.
Anna Hazare’s arrest was a preventive measure as he said he would hold hunger strike in defiance of the law, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh said in the parliament on Wednesday.
Making a statement in both the houses of Parliament today, he said that the social activist was detained because he and his team refused to abide by certain conditions laid down by the Delhi police.
“Government does not seek any confrontation with any section of the society. But when some sections of society deliberately challenge the authority of government and prerogative of Parliament, it is the bounden duty of the government to maintain peace and tranquility,” he said in a statement.
Dr. Singh also said that Hazare continues to persist with his demand on the Lokpal Bill and wants his version to be presented and passed by the parliament.
The Prime Minister said that Hazare had sought to impose his version of Lokpal Bill, which was totally misconceived and fraught with grave consequences for Parliamentary democracy.
“Hazare may be inspired by high ideals in his campaign to set up a strong and effective Lokpal. However, the path that he has chosen to impose his draft of a bill upon Parliament is totally misconceived and fraught with grave consequences for our Parliamentary democracy,” the PM said.
Dr. Singh said that the Government acknowledges the right of citizens to hold peaceful protests but permission for these is given subject to appropriate conditions.
The Prime Minister appealed to all political parties to ensure that the Government and its processes, and Parliament and its processes function smoothly and effectively.
The Prime Minister’s statement in the parliament today came a day after the arrest of Hazare and his supporters in New Delhi ahead of the latter’s proposed ‘fast-unto-deat
Hazare was detained by the Delhi policy on Tuesday morning before he was to start his much-hyped hunger strike. He was later sentenced to a seven-day judicial custody by a local magistrate.
Stunned by the growing popular support for Hazare and nationwide protests, the Government later decided to release the eminent social activist. But, Hazare refused to leave the Tihar jail till the Delhi Police, demanding an unconditional right to hold his protest fast on the Lokpal Bill at the Jayaprakash Narayan Park in the Capital. He and along with his associate Arvind Kejriwal are believed to have started the fast inside the Tihar jail itself. “We have released him but he is not breaking his fast nor is he leaving the premises. He says he won’t do so unless he is allowed to protest,” Neeraj Kumar, DG of Tihar jail has been quoted as saying.
The BJP today criticised the Prime Minister’s statement in parliament over Hazare’s arrest, saying that it was disappointing and did not inspire any confidence. The UPA Government’s restrictions on public protests were unheard of even during the British period and demanded bold decisions to tackle corruption.
Leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Arun Jaitley said that the country was exasperated with the Government and the level of corruption in UPA’s rule. The Prime Minister was trying to build a thesis that Hazare’s protest was some sort of a confrontation between Parliament and civil society but the opposition rejects it, Jaitley said.
He said that nobody was disputing the Parliament’s right to frame the laws, but the question is whether the Government has the willpower to fight corruption.
Meanwhile, Yoga guru Ramdev and the Art of Living Foundation head Sri Sri Ravishankar today extended their support to Anna Hazare and his associates outside Tihar Jail. Earlier, Ramdev submitted a memorandum to President Pratibha Patil against Hazare’s arrest. He also termed Hazare’s arrest as a “conspiracy in the name of democracy”.
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