Indian activist faces arrest after police ban his anti-graft fast

[News_Editor]

Indian activist faces arrest after police ban his anti-graft fast

2011-08-16 06:13:57 GMT+7 (ICT)

NEW DELHI (BNO NEWS) -- The arrest of Indian social activist Anna Hazare seems imminent after his camp refused to accept six of the 22 conditions set by the Delhi Police for his anti-corruption fast, the Hindustan Times reported on Monday.

Hazare said in a press conference that he and his supporters will march on Tuesday to the Jai Prakash Narayan Park and that he will fast in custody if arrested. "When I am released, I will go there again to start my fast," he added.

The 73-year-old plans to start fasting on August 16 and to continue until the government passes an anti-corruption bill. However, Delhi police only gave him permission to fast for no more than three days.

Hazare's team insisted on permission for an indefinite period, and the police offered a venue in Burari on the outskirts of the city. Hazare, however, turned down the offer.

"We have denied them permission to protest at JP Park. Section 144 that restricts a gathering of people has been imposed at the park and all roads leading to it. If anyone tries to defy the orders, the punishment can vary from preventive custody to arrest", Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat said.

Hazare exhorted all Indian citizens to join him in jail as he could be arrested, according to the Hindustan Times.

Earlier this month, supporters of Hazare burned copies of the government's version of the Lokpal bill and slammed the legislation for exempting the prime minister, the judiciary and lawmakers. They called it the "anti-poor" law for excluding the office of the Prime Minister from the purview of a new ombudsman.

Hazare threatened to continue protesting the exclusion of some recommendations made by civil society representatives from the bill until August 16. The Gandhian social activist went on hunger strike in April to force the government to form a joint panel of ministers and activists to draft the Lokpa bill.

The bill follows a series of corruption scandals involving government officials. Transparency International ranked India, one of few yet to ratify the United Nations convention against corruption, at 78, placing it below neighboring rival China.

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