New Delhi, August 11: With just six days left for Anna Hazare to start indefinite fast on the Lokpal Bill, he agreed on Wednesday to stage the fast at Jaiprakash Narayan Park, near Feroz Shah Kotla ground, in New Delhi. The site was suggested by the Delhi police after Team Hazare was denied permission to hold fast at Jantar Mantar where he previously staged the fast.
The police had suggested four venues other than Jantar Mantar: Rajghat, Ramlila Maidan, Shaheed Park and Boat Club. Of these, Team Hazare had already got clearance from Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) for staging fast at Ramlila Maidan. The police did not agree to these options. Later, the police suggested Jaiprakash Narayan Park to which Hazare agreed.
Jaiprakash Narayan Park comes under the jurisdiction of Central Public Works Department (CPWD). Hazare will seek permission from CPWD on Thursday.
‘Withdraw Lokpal Bill’
Appearing before the standing committee of Parliament, Anna Hazare reiterated his demand that the government withdraw the Lokpal Bill under consideration, instead take measures to deal with problems of corruption faced by the public at every step of life.
Anna did what he has come to be known for, re-issued another threat unless the standing committee rejects the current Lokpal Bill in favour of his team’s Jan Lokpal Bill by August 15, he would again go on a fast. The decision, Anna asserted, has to be taken within the time-limit prescribed by him.
He was accompanied by his team members, senior lawyers Shanti Bhushan, son Prashant Bhushan, Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi, all of whom came before the Parliamentary Committee on Law, Justice and Personnel chaired by Abhishek Manu Singhvi.
Following the two-and-a-half hour meeting, Prashant Bhushan and Kejriwal told the media that they asked the committee to recommend to the government that the Bill be withdrawn.
—Agencies