Anna hazare sent to Tihar Jail, protests engulf India

Anna sent to Tihar Jail, protests engulf India

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The Delhi Police detained veteran social activist Anna Hazare ahead of his indefinite fast over the proposed Lokpal Bill. The government went into panic mode yesterday, accusing the Gandhian activist of fudging his trust records and clamping ban orders on the venue of the fast. Arvind Kejriwal, another leader of the movement, has urged citizens to switch off lights in their homes for an hour from 8 pm today. Yahoo! India News brings you real-time updates on all the action.
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7: 00 pm: Activists for and against Hazare

Social activists are deeply divided over the anti-corruption movement led by Anna Hazare. While human rights activist Swami Agnivesh says the movement has a groundswell of popular support, activist and columnist Shabnam Hashmi feels Hazare has adopted an authoritarian attitude and is supported by right-wing groups.   

6: 40 pm: Kiran Bedi, Shanti Bhushan released

Breaking on CNN IBN: Kiran Bedi and Shanti Bhushan released from detention. 

6: 10 pm: Team Anna versus government: Information warfare hots up 

A full-blown information warfare has broken out between Team Anna and the government, with both sides deploying social media tools, SMS and e-mail campaigns to drum up support and run down each other - in what is proving to be a serious crisis for the UPA government.

While supporters of Team Anna have launched a SMS blitzkrieg asking people to court arrest and go on mass leave to join the protesters, the government has launched both overt and covert information offensive to undermine civil society activists that sometimes verged on slander and character assassination.   

6: 05 pm: Farooq Abdullah tweets on Anna's arrest
Farooq Abdullah's tweet on the arrest: Anna Hazare in the company of Kalmadi, Raja and Kanimozhi. The lady of justice is indeed blind.

6: 00 pm Hazare faces complaint in Bhopal on flag hoisting

Anna Hazare may face trouble in Madhya Pradesh with a complainant moving court here for action against him for allegedly hoisting the national flag after sunset during a TV show.

'The plea has been accepted and the next court hearing will take place Aug 25,' said R.K. Pandey, lawyer of petitioner Prakash Thakur.   

5: 45 pm: Over 3000 detained in Mumbai after protests over Anna Hazare's arrest

Over 3,000 people were picked on the charges of unlawful assembly from across Mumbai on Tuesday after they held demonstrations protesting against the police action against activist Anna Hazare, hours before he was to launch his fast against corruption, police said. 

5: 15 pm: Anna will share space with Kalmadi, Raja
Sent to seven days' judicial custody, Anna Hazare will share space in Tihar jail with A Raja and Suresh Kalmadi, both accused in high-profile scams.

4: 40 pm: Shanti Bhushan: Architect of Lokpal bill

Saga of the fearless lawyer, who stood against then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi forty years ago and has now come forward to fight the government against the corruption.

4: 25 pm: Anna arrest: parties join hands to corner Govt

The UPA Government is finding itself isolated on the issue of arresting Anna Hazare and his supporters with all the opposition parties deciding to form a common strategy to take on the Government.

All the opposition parties met at 2 PM in Parliament and decided on a joint strategy to corner the government. The Left Front proposed that all the opposition parties should boycott Parliament proceedings for the next three days to protest against the arrest of Hazare and his supporters. 
4: 15 pm: FAQ: Why Anna Hazare is wrong and Lok Pal a bad idea
'The Acorn's latest post talks about whether we really need a Lok Pal Bill to fight corruption. 
4.03 pm: Anna Hazare gets 7-day custody, sent to Tihar Jail
A Special Magistrate Court sent the 74-year-old social activist to Tihar Jail after he refused to sign a personal bond. Hazare was asked to sign an undertaking promising that he would not violate Section 144.

The Anna Hazare team earlier in the day said that they will approach the Supreme Court against the detention ahead of the proposed indefinite fast, claiming that the police action was 'totally undemocratic'. 

Meanwhile, the BJP demands an answer from the Prime Minister on Anna's arrest. Senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley says the government can not take away people's right to protest. 
4.00 pm: Anna Hazare detained, India outraged 

Civil society activist Anna Hazare was detained by Delhi Police, shortly before he was to begin an indefinite fast to press for a strong anti-corruption Lokpal Bill, triggering swathes of unrest across the country and pitting the government against not just the opposition but also large sections of the public. 

Hazare's associates Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi and Shanti Bhushan were also detained along with about 1,000 supporters. As the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said the move smacked of the excesses during Emergency and parliament was stalled, the outrage spread across the country with reports of protests coming in from virtually every corner. 

3.30 pm: Anna detained for his 'madness', says tourism minister 

Union Tourism Minister and senior Congress leader Subodh Kant Sahay justified Anna Hazare's detention in New Delhi, saying he was arrested for his 'madness'.

'Anna Hazare was detained due to his madness for being bent upon a fast-unto-death even as his major demands were accepted by the government,' said Sahay, the Lok Sabha MP from this Jharkhand capital.  

3.00 pm: Tactics of govt. akin to those of British: Shanti Bhushan

Criticising the government over the detention of Anna Hazare, senior lawyer and social activist Shanti Bhushan on Tuesday said that the tactics of former were akin to those of the British.

"We did not expect to be detained despite not violating any rules. The Government is nervous, it does not want to let go of corrupt practices. They are treating us like the British. Today's government is similar to that of Winston Churchill," Bhushan said. 

Shanti Bhushan: Architect of Lokpal billSaga of the fearless lawyer, who stood against then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi forty years agho and has now come forward to fight the government against the corruption.

2.30 pm: Government not against protests: Mukherjee 

Every citizen has the right to protest and the government is not against protests per se but the manner of protests, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said.

'Everyone has the right to protest but there is a method of protesting,' Mukherjee told reporters.

'It is the legitimate right of every individual to hold protests but at the same time there are certain rules and laws. If police considers that a particular action may lead to law and order problem, then police can impose certain conditions,' he added.   

2.15 pm: Kiran Bedi says 'emergency' has revisited the country

Terming the detention of veteran social activist Anna Hazare as undemocratic and unconstitutional, civil society activist Kiran Bedi said that emergency has revisited the country.

" This is totally undemocratic and un -constitutional. This has not been done by Delhi Police; somebody else is behind it. Delhi Police is capable enough to handle such peaceful protests," she said.

Kiran Bedi tweets her conditionArrested social activist and former senior cop, Kiran Bedi has tweeted that she has no clue where she’s been taken.

1.45 pm: Sushma demands explanation from PM on Hazare's detention

Hours after veteran social activist Anna Hazare was detained by the police from Supreme Enclave in Mayur Vihar for defying prohibitory orders and vowing to go ahead with his fast, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sushma Swaraj condemned the incident, and demanded that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh make a statement in Lok Sabha on the issue.

"A statement from the Home Minister on the issue (Hazare) is not acceptable to us. We want the Prime Minister's statement in the House. Whatever has happened, the Prime Minister must explain," Swaraj said.   

1.30 pm: Delhi Police working independently: Ambika Soni 

Delhi Police was not acting under political pressure but had detained civil society activist Anna Hazare to maintain law and order, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni said

1.00 pm: Rajya Sabha adjourned over Anna arrest 

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned amid noisy scenes and arguments between the opposition and treasury benches over the detention of civil society activist Anna Hazare and his associates.   

12.30 pm:  Detention is beginning of India's second freedom struggle: Hazare

Veteran social activist Anna Hazare, who was detained by Delhi Police on Tuesday, described it as the beginning of India's second freedom struggle.

"My dear countrymen, the second freedom struggle has begun and now I have also been arrested. But will this movement be stopped by my arrest? No, not at all. Don't let it happen," Hazare said soon after being detained by the police

12.15 pm: Hazare detained for wanting to defy order: R K Singh

Home Secretary R K Singh said social activist Anna Hazare was detained because he said he intended to defy prohibitory orders and sit on a fast. "Anna Hazare stated that he will defy the prohibitory orders. So, he has been detained,' Singh told reporters.

Delhi Police had denied permission for his fast after he refused to abide by all the 22 conditions set by them for the agitation.   

11.50 am: Advani slams Govt. over Anna's detention

Slamming the government over the detention of veteran social activist Anna Hazare, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L K Advani said instead of dealing with the problem of corruption and owning responsibility, the former is trying to find scapegoats and is stopping peaceful protests.

"I am not surprised at this development. This is the direction in which this government is moving," NDTV quoted Advani as, saying.    
 
11.30 am: Shutdown in Hazare's village, protests in Pune, Mumbai   

Residents of Gandhian activist Anna Hazare's village Ralegan Siddhi took to the streets to protest the detention of the anti-corruption crusader in New Delhi. There were demonstrations in Pune and Mumbai too.
11.00 am: Team Anna to move Supreme Court against detentions   

Terming the detention of veteran social activist Anna Hazare as totally undemocratic, senior lawyer and member of the committee constituted for the Lokpal Bill, Prashant Bhushan said they will approach the Supreme Court.

"The action showed that the government has no regard for fundamental rights of the citizens. We will move the Supreme Court," said Bhushan. "Time has come to rise up against this government. We appeal to people to protest against the government peacefully," he added.   

10.30 am: Demonstrations in Lucknow against Hazare's detention  

People across various age groups and different walks of life held demonstrations in this Uttar Pradesh

capital to protest the detention of Gandhian activist Anna Hazare in New Delhi.   

10.00 am: Activists fast in Himachal to support Anna 

Several activists began an indefinite hunger strike in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi town to press for a strong anti-corruption Lokpal bill and express solidarity with civil society leader Anna Hazare, who was detained early morning in the national capital.   

9.30 am: Manmohan Singh convenes CCPA meet over Hazare's detention  

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh convened an emergency meeting of Cabinet Committee of Political Affairs (CCPA) to discuss the strategy after crackdown on Team Anna. As per reports, Home Minister P Chidambaram is meeting the Prime Minister ahead of the CCPA meet

9.00 am: BJP condemns Hazare's arrest  

Condemning the arrest of Gandhian activist Anna Hazare, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tuesday said the government would learn its lesson 'the hard way'.

'It is regrettable and condemnable. This government is bent upon crushing anyone who wants to protest against corruption,' BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said.   

Anna arrestedDelhi Police arrests Anna Hazare even before he leaves for Rajghat

8 am: Delhi Police arrest Anna Hazare, Kiran Bedi, Kejriwal

On Tuesday morning, over a dozen plain-clothed policemen landed at lawyer Prashant Bhushan's house in Mayur Vihar, where Hazare was staying, and detained the Gandhian activist minutes before he was to set out for Rajghat, from where he had planned to head to the Jai Prakash Narain (JP) Park to begin his fast.  

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August 15th, 2011
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8.00 pm: Hazare calls for jail bharo after ban orders

Anna Hazare paid a surprise visit to Rajghat and meditated for a while, causing tension to the police, addressed a press conference in the evening. He said there was need for struggle to fight corruption and change the existing 'anti-poor system'. The social activist declared he was ready to go to jail and called for a 'jail bharo' agitation. 
7.00 pm: Team Anna, government headed for showdown 

Team Anna Hazare and the government were Monday night set for a showdown after Delhi Police refused to let them hold a fast from Tuesday for a stronger Lokpal Bill and the social activist declared he was ready to go to jail.   

After govt's no to fast, Anna reaches RajghatAfter Delhi police denied him permission for holding fast over the Lokpal Bill, Gandhian activist Anna Hazare, in a symbolic move, on Monday went to Rajghat and sat close to Bapu's samadhi.

6.00 pm: Ban orders imposed at Hazare protest venue 

The Delhi Police Monday night imposed ban orders at JP Park here where social activist Anna Hazare is to hold a protest fast from Tuesday morning. 

The development came even as a large number of Hazare's supporters started gathering at the park with candles and flaming torches in their hands.

The police have imposed Section 144 - that bans the gathering of five or     people - at the park, near Ferozeshah Kotla ground, the venue that the police had earlier told Hazare he could hold his protest fast in.     

5.00 pm: Hazare to court arrest; calls for struggle to change system

Calling for a struggle to fight corruption and change the 'anti-poor' system, social activist Anna Hazare said he will court arrest Tuesday if the police does not allow him to reach the venue of his fast. He also appealed to people to go to jail in support of the anti-corruption struggle.

'We will go to JP Park tomorrow (Tuesday) for our fast. I have learnt that Section 144 (prohibiting gathering of five or     people) has been imposed. If they (police) refuse to allow us to proceed, we will sit there only. We are ready to go to jail. I appeal to people all over the country that when we go to jail, people in villages should also go to jail,' Hazare told mediapersons here.  

3.30 pm: Team Anna dares Govt., to move court if stopped from protesting

Terming the decision of the Delhi Police as 'unconstitutional' and 'undemocratic', Supreme Court lawyer and member of the Lokpal Bill drafting committee, Prashant Bhushan, said the civil society activists would move the court if they were stopped from protesting.   

2.00 pm: Govt. always suppresses anti-corruption crusaders, says Ramdev

Yoga guru Baba Ramdev accused the Central government of trying to suppress anti-corruption movements in the country.

Addressing mediapersons Ramdev said: "The government maligns the image of hose who raise their voice. People in the country must understand the intention of the overnment, even if it is Anna Hazare, Baba Ramdev and Balakrishna."

"Earlier, even leaders like Jai Prakash Narain and even during the time of emergency, hoever dared to raise their voice was crushed by the government. This is still going on fter 64 years of independence," he added.   

1.00 pm: Kejriwal asks people to switch off home lights

Just after activist Anna Hazare addressed a conference here Monday evening to announced his anti-corruption strategy, his team member Arvind Kejriwal appealed to people to switch off lights in their homes for an hour as a mark of support for their cause.

People were asked to switch off lights for an hour starting 8 p.m. Monday. Kejriwal said: 'I asked people to switch off the lights for one hour, as the kind of independence we have today in our country is incomplete.'

'Nothing has been left untouched by corruption. Unfortunately, the government seems to be promoting it rather than preventing it. The government's Lokpal bill is complete eyewash and will shield corruption,' he said. 

12.00 pm: We are ready to go to jail: Anna

Calling for a struggle to fight corruption and change the existing system, social activist Anna Hazare Monday said he will court arrest Tuesday if the police does not allow him to reach the venue of his fast. He also appealed to people to go to jail in support of the anti-corruption struggle

‘we will go to JP Park tomorrow (Tuesday) for our fast. I have learnt that Section 144 (prohibiting gathering of five or     people) has been imposed. If they (police) refuse to allow us to proceed, we will sit there only. We are ready to go to jail. I appeal to people all over the country that when we go to jail, people in villages should also go to jail,' Hazare said.   

11.00 am: Want strong Lokpal, don't fast: PM 

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the government wants a 'strong Lokpal' and those who don't agree with some aspects of a proposed legislation 'should not resort to hunger strikes'.

'We want a strong Lokpal to prevent corruption in high places. We have recently introduced a bill in parliament to achieve this,' said Singh in his address to the nation's 65th Independence Day. 'Now only parliament can decide what type of Lokpal legislation should be enacted,' he said from the ramparts of Red Fort.