- Anil Narendra
Monday the 16th August will always be remembered. It was no less than a film full of all suspense, drama, emotions. All eyes were riveted on Anna Hazare. People were anxious to know what Anna was going to do today. But Anna was true to his words. Despite all pressures, Anna was firm on his resolve and would remain so. With about 250 police personnel, senior officers of Delhi Police reached Prashant Bhushan’s flat in Supreme enclave in Mayur Vihar Phase-1 on the Monday morning, where Anna was staying. After futile discussions for half an hour, Police took Anna into custody. As Crime Branch officials accompanying Anna came out in an Innova car, a huge crowd surrounded it. People blocked the UP link road. Anna Hazare was brought to the Officers’ Mess at Alipur Road. Later, apprehending breach of peace, Anna’s arrest was announced. Fearing reactions from Anna supporters, the Police made arrangements to send him to an undisclosed location. Police took away Anna in a car. Uncertainty over Anna prevailed for about two hours. Police, too, refused to say anything in this regard. Anna along with the police team reached DCP office in Rajauri Garden at about 12.15 in the afternoon. He was produced before the Court of the Executive Magistrate. After Anna’s refusal to sign an affidavit, he was sent to judicial custody. At about 1515 hrs, the police team started for Tihar Jail along with Anna, but the agitating crowd outside DCP office started protesting. In the ensuing stone-pelting, window pane of Innova, in which Anna was traveling, was also broken. Police reached Tihar Jail with Anna at about 3.45 PM. Tihar authorities decided to lodge Anna in Jail No 4. His other associates – Arvind Kejariwal, Shanti Bhushan, Kiran Bedi were also brought to Tihar Jail after their arrest.
The news of Anna’s arrest spread all over the country like wild fire. The atmosphere was similar to that of JP Movement’s. People were on streets, they were raising slogans and there was demonstration of solidarity among the people that included women, children, elders etc. But there was a great difference between JP and Anna movements. And the difference was that of the presence of electronic media. Television had made a significant difference. Not only in India, but all over the world, the news of Anna’s arrest was being watched/listened with great interest. Public in many cities took to the streets and sit-ins and demonstrations began. Perhaps, the Central government was not expecting of such a massive support to Anna’s movement. The decision to take Anna to Tihar proved that the Manmohan Singh government is loosing its ability to take logical decisions, which according to an adage happens in the face of doomsday. Anna was taken to same Jail, where corrupt persons like A Raja, Kanimojhi, Suresh Kalmadi were lodged. What an irony that a person who, like Gandhiji, is carrying a non-violent crusade against corruption, had been taken to a jail, where great names accused of corruption had gathered. Even the prisoners of Tihar started raising slogans in support of Anna. According to sources, even the security personnel posted there were eager to get a glimpse of Anna. Some of the prisoners said that it can be understood that persons like them are put behind bars, but what is the logic behind the arrest of a person like Anna Hazare?, He is just following Gandhian principles of protest and leading an anti-corruption movement for the relief of common man. What is the fault of such people for which they are being put behind the bars? They wanted to see such people. Sources say that some of the prisoners expressed their desire to be part of this movement after being released from the Jail, while others offered to go on fast for a day. When Anna Hazare was in jail, large number of people had thronged the Tihar and they were exhibiting their support to Anna Hazare and at India Gate, people were taking a candle march at the same time. Chhatrasal Stadium, where agitators were being kept, was resounding with slogans and electronic media was reporting about public coming to streets all over the country. The government was seething with anger over the support Anna was getting and action taken by the Delhi Police was perhaps, unprecedented. It had sent an order to Tihar authorities to release Anna unconditionally. This time the Delhi Police acted a little sensibly. There was no repetition of the use of force that was witnessed on 4 June to oust the supporters of Baba Ramdev from Ramlila Grounds and the Police handled this whole episode with maturity.
Anna movement was at its peak. The issue for which Anna was agitating was different from that of Baba Ramdev. Real issue was corruption and price rise. People have come to the conclusion that corruption is the real cause for the present inflation and this government is neither interested in curbing the corruption nor controlling the inflation. I live in Sunder Nagar. On my return to my home on Tuesday I came across a copy of a circular by the Sunder Nagar Association, which was sent to all the residents. It had an appeal to all the residents to keep their lights off in the evening from 7.00 to 8.00 and lend their support to anti-Corruption movement. With these types of passions running high among common man, you can easily guess how popular the Anna mission has become. Anna is right when he says that the corruption can be mitigated by the Jan Lokpal Bill, but cannot be ruled out completely. Anna’s mission could be considered successful, if at least 65 per cent corruption is reduced.
At present, Anna is firm on his resolve in Tihar. It appears from the news that were coming till the writing of this article that Anna has refused to leave the premises of Tihar until allowed to undertake his protests unconditionally. He is insisting that the terms imposed on his protest fast must be removed. Jail authorities have declared his release, but Anna has refused to step out of the Jail. Tihar Jail spokesman Sunil Gupta says that superior officers have been informed about the terms that have been put forward by Anna for his release. The Manmohan government has failed to feel the pulse of the public. In fact, this government has failed from the beginning to properly gauge the public support, the Anna Movement was gaining. That is why picture of government’s insincerity and anger has emerged and the adage that with approaching doom, a person looses prudence also hold good in the present context. The direction of Gandhian Anna’s movement and massive support to it all over the country proved a serious irritant for the government. The government had to suffer disgrace in the face of efforts to stop Anna’s protest fast. That is why, the Delhi Police which had arrested Anna in the morning, was continuously appealing to him in the evening to step out of the jail. Police withdrew all cases against him, but Anna was adamant to remain in the jail till he is not given written permission to hold protest at JP Park. After his arrest, Anna said that the second movement of independence has begun and that though he has been arrested, but his movement is not going to stop on any account. He said that the real faces of the corrupts have been unveiled. This is a struggle for change. Rule of the people could not be materialized till the change is not brought about. He said that the time has come, when all people should offer arrest and not a single jail in the country should remain vacant. All supporters should take eight days’ leave from their jobs and join the movement. He said the movement would be strengthened, only if people in large numbers join it.
The news of Anna’s arrest spread all over the country like wild fire. The atmosphere was similar to that of JP Movement’s. People were on streets, they were raising slogans and there was demonstration of solidarity among the people that included women, children, elders etc. But there was a great difference between JP and Anna movements. And the difference was that of the presence of electronic media. Television had made a significant difference. Not only in India, but all over the world, the news of Anna’s arrest was being watched/listened with great interest. Public in many cities took to the streets and sit-ins and demonstrations began. Perhaps, the Central government was not expecting of such a massive support to Anna’s movement. The decision to take Anna to Tihar proved that the Manmohan Singh government is loosing its ability to take logical decisions, which according to an adage happens in the face of doomsday. Anna was taken to same Jail, where corrupt persons like A Raja, Kanimojhi, Suresh Kalmadi were lodged. What an irony that a person who, like Gandhiji, is carrying a non-violent crusade against corruption, had been taken to a jail, where great names accused of corruption had gathered. Even the prisoners of Tihar started raising slogans in support of Anna. According to sources, even the security personnel posted there were eager to get a glimpse of Anna. Some of the prisoners said that it can be understood that persons like them are put behind bars, but what is the logic behind the arrest of a person like Anna Hazare?, He is just following Gandhian principles of protest and leading an anti-corruption movement for the relief of common man. What is the fault of such people for which they are being put behind the bars? They wanted to see such people. Sources say that some of the prisoners expressed their desire to be part of this movement after being released from the Jail, while others offered to go on fast for a day. When Anna Hazare was in jail, large number of people had thronged the Tihar and they were exhibiting their support to Anna Hazare and at India Gate, people were taking a candle march at the same time. Chhatrasal Stadium, where agitators were being kept, was resounding with slogans and electronic media was reporting about public coming to streets all over the country. The government was seething with anger over the support Anna was getting and action taken by the Delhi Police was perhaps, unprecedented. It had sent an order to Tihar authorities to release Anna unconditionally. This time the Delhi Police acted a little sensibly. There was no repetition of the use of force that was witnessed on 4 June to oust the supporters of Baba Ramdev from Ramlila Grounds and the Police handled this whole episode with maturity.
Anna movement was at its peak. The issue for which Anna was agitating was different from that of Baba Ramdev. Real issue was corruption and price rise. People have come to the conclusion that corruption is the real cause for the present inflation and this government is neither interested in curbing the corruption nor controlling the inflation. I live in Sunder Nagar. On my return to my home on Tuesday I came across a copy of a circular by the Sunder Nagar Association, which was sent to all the residents. It had an appeal to all the residents to keep their lights off in the evening from 7.00 to 8.00 and lend their support to anti-Corruption movement. With these types of passions running high among common man, you can easily guess how popular the Anna mission has become. Anna is right when he says that the corruption can be mitigated by the Jan Lokpal Bill, but cannot be ruled out completely. Anna’s mission could be considered successful, if at least 65 per cent corruption is reduced.
At present, Anna is firm on his resolve in Tihar. It appears from the news that were coming till the writing of this article that Anna has refused to leave the premises of Tihar until allowed to undertake his protests unconditionally. He is insisting that the terms imposed on his protest fast must be removed. Jail authorities have declared his release, but Anna has refused to step out of the Jail. Tihar Jail spokesman Sunil Gupta says that superior officers have been informed about the terms that have been put forward by Anna for his release. The Manmohan government has failed to feel the pulse of the public. In fact, this government has failed from the beginning to properly gauge the public support, the Anna Movement was gaining. That is why picture of government’s insincerity and anger has emerged and the adage that with approaching doom, a person looses prudence also hold good in the present context. The direction of Gandhian Anna’s movement and massive support to it all over the country proved a serious irritant for the government. The government had to suffer disgrace in the face of efforts to stop Anna’s protest fast. That is why, the Delhi Police which had arrested Anna in the morning, was continuously appealing to him in the evening to step out of the jail. Police withdrew all cases against him, but Anna was adamant to remain in the jail till he is not given written permission to hold protest at JP Park. After his arrest, Anna said that the second movement of independence has begun and that though he has been arrested, but his movement is not going to stop on any account. He said that the real faces of the corrupts have been unveiled. This is a struggle for change. Rule of the people could not be materialized till the change is not brought about. He said that the time has come, when all people should offer arrest and not a single jail in the country should remain vacant. All supporters should take eight days’ leave from their jobs and join the movement. He said the movement would be strengthened, only if people in large numbers join it.
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