New Delhi: Social activist Anna Hazare is set to start his hunger strike over the Lokpal issue on Tuesday. Anna and his team insist on carrying on despite the Delhi police refusing permission and locking down the venue JP park - supporters who had gathered there were evicted overnight.
As Anna Hazare braces for the indefinite fast he is determined to undertake from Tuesday, he went to the Rajghat on Monday for a quiet prayer.
With the Prime Minister cautioning Team Anna in his Independence Day speech - that the confrontation was inevitable was set in the tone earlier in the day. A few hours later, the Delhi police refused permission for the hunger strike at JP Park.
"Fasting is not the way," said the Prime Minister on Monday.
Team Anna has refused to agree to six conditions laid down by the Delhi police - that the fast the would be restricted to just three days; and not more than 5000 people would gather at the venue.
When Team Anna refused to sign on the most important conditions set, the Delhi police refused to grant them permission for their protest. Team Anna has said they will go ahead with their protest anyway - all this coming on a day when the nation celebrates 64 years of independence. The confrontation between the government and Team Anna over the Lokpal Bill is likely to climax on Tuesday.
The Delhi police also has the option to impose prohibitory orders at JP Park - the venue of the protest is now locked. Faced with police action, Team Anna is planning to court arrest while the option to approach the supreme court is also open.
Anna Hazare has been threatening to fast if the government does not accept his version of the Lokpal Bill. His ideas found little support in the joint drafting committee. The government has already washed its hands off by sending the Bill to parliamentary standing committee.
"I request the people of the country to go to jail. Going to jail for the betterment of the country is good. Tomorrow morning we will go to JP park, section 144 has been imposed at the venue. We will court arrest if not allowed," said Anna Hazare on Monday.
"Our Prime minister said that Lokpal Bill will be sent to Parliament and we will have to abide by whatever Parliament decides. We have full confidence in Parliament but bring the right bill before Parliament," said Anna Hazare on Monday.
When Anna Hazare walks up to JP park on Tuesday, MP's would be beginning another day at work in Parliament. With both sides sticking to their stand, the state is set for a showdown.
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