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New Delhi: Team
Anna's anti-graft protest Saturday reached near Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's heavily guarded residence here after more people
joined the ongoing agitation at Jantar Mantar over the weekend.
Within minutes, dozens of Anna Hazare's slogan shouting supporters
holding placards with anti-government slogans were rounded up near
the 7 Race Course Road, packed in vehicles and detained, police
said.
As police tried to stop the protesters from going ahead, many of
them resisted the arrest by lying down on the road, dotted by
heavy presence of security personnel guarding Manmohan Singh's
official residence.
The protesters were seen throwing paper missiles and pieces of
coal when they clashed with the police. Some of them tried to
break through the barricades near the gates but were swiftly
stopped by police.
There were no reports any injury in the clash that lasted for a
few minutes.
"We have detained 40 men and six women... The incident took place
around 6 p.m.," a police officer told IANS.
Activists led by Anna Hazare allege that Manmohan Singh and 14 of
his ministerial colleagues are involved in graft, including in the
purported multi-crore rupees coal mining scam.
At the Janatar Mantar on the fourth day of Team Anna's indefinite
fast against corruption, more people joined the agitation than the
weekdays. According to estimates, there were some 2,000 protesters
at the venue.
Hazare threatened hunger strike from Sunday till the government
moves on with his version of the anti-corruption law, the Lokpal
bill.
"I will fast until we get Jan Lokpal... We too are not happy to go
on hunger strike again and again but we are forced to," Hazare
told his supporters.
The 75-year-old anti-graft crusader had served an ultimatum on
July 26 that he will wait for the government to take a decision on
his demands or else he will join his colleagues on Jantar Mantar
fast from Sunday.
He attacked the government saying it had "cheated" them "again and
again from the start till now".
"First by the (Lokpal bill) draft committee, then by the
(parliament's) standing committee and then in parliament."
Hazare made it clear that he would not contest elections and said
the "country's future is not safe with the Congress and the BJP (Bharatiya
Janata Party)".
"For a vote, Rs.15,000, Rs.20,000, Rs.30,000 are given. Those who
get elected are making money and they don't know where to keep
this money. So they send it to foreign countries. Now its time to
awaken the voters," he said, referring to Indian black money
stashed away in overseas tax heavens.
He said a political "alternative" to the Congress and the BJP was
impossible if "good people" do not fight elections, enter the
parliament and get the nation a strong Lokpal.
But he ruled out contesting elections himself or forming a
political party.
"Some are saying that we should give alternative, we should form a
party. Rs.15-20 crore is spend by a candidate for assembly
elections and Rs.50 crore for Lok Sabha polls. I will not fight
elections. I will not put up a party," he said.
He said he would campaign for those with a clean background and
then put their names on internet seeking people's opinion about
them.
"From among them, we will put up some people for election. I will
go for their campaigning and tell people that these are good
candidates and we need good people in parliament," he added.
Hazare said he was unfazed with the dwindling number of his
supporters at the fast venue.
"Crowds alone do not make a movement. I will be happy if even five
people gather to support the movement. The protest is going on in
550 districts, so it is not correct to say that the crowd is huge
or less."
His close aide Arvind Kejriwal said the fight was more than
pressing the government on the anti-graft law. "We want the entire
system to change… We will have bring about a total revolution… The
struggle is no longer about the Lokpal bill only."
Kejriwal requested Anna not to fast citing his poor health.
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