Police asks team Anna to choose venue for fast outside Delhi

New Delhi, Jul 29: Delhi Police has told team Anna Hazare that they cannot go for their proposed indefinite fast and sit-in at Jantar Mantar against the Lokpal Bill and asked them to either choose a venue outside the capital or give a definite time-frame for their campaign near Parliament.

Hazare has announced that he will sit on an indefinite fast here from August 16 demanding the withdrawal of the government's Lokpal Bill, in a replay of his protest at Jantar Mantar in early April demanding a strong Lokpal to fight corruption in high places.

Team Anna had a series of meetings with the officials of the Home Ministry and the Delhi Police and the decision was conveyed to them by the authorities.

Official sources said the Delhi Police has cited a 2009 order of the Supreme Court and has said that they cannot give permission for indefinite dharna anywhere in Delhi including in Jantar Mantar as Parliament would be in session beginning August 1.

Police authorities said that no one group can be allowed to capture the entire space at Jantar Mantar as many groups conduct protests during this period (Parliament Session).

So, if Anna and his supporters want to go ahead with their fast and dharna they will have to shift their venue to the outskirts of Delhi or give the police a definite time-frame for their sit-in.

The Delhi Police, Home Ministry officials and Hazare supporters are in constant touch, they said.

"The entire country will protest with me at Jantar Mantar on August 16...This is not Hazare's protest but the entire country's. The people need to look at this as a second fight for their freedom and they should all come out on the streets," Hazare said yesterday in Maharashtra's Ralegaon Siddi.

PTI