Kejriwal blames Chidambaram, Sibal for talks breakdown :Jan Lokpall Bill

NEW DELHI: As Anna Hazare's fast entered the 10th day today, his team accused "some strong elements" in the government of nullifying the entire dialogue process and said they have become victims of Congress' "internal politics".

Stating that they were ready to hold talks in a "honest and sincere manner", Team Anna alleged that Home Minister P Chidambaram and HRD Minister Kapil Sibal were taking a strong stand forcing the government not to enter into a compromise with them on the Lokpal Bill.

"It appears that there are some strong elements in the government who want to nullify the entire dialogue process... We were told that in CCPA, especially Chidambaram and Sibal, were completely opposed to any kind of agreement or any kind of dialogue," activist Arvind Kejriwal told reporters here.

"We are becoming victims of Congress' internal politics. Day before yesterday, the talks were positive, but in the CCPA meeting, Salman Khurshid told us that there was a lot of fighting. Chidambaram and Sibal said there should be no dialogue with us and we should be tackled with a tough hand," he alleged.

The accusation came after late night talks between two sides ended in a deadlock with both sides failing to resolve the key issues, prompting the civil society to declare that they were "back to square one".

Kejriwal said if the CCPA and government can "ignore" the views of a senior leader like Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, the chief government negotiator, then the question is that whom should they talk to?

"We will talk to the government," another Team Anna member Prashant Bhushan said.

Activist Kiran Bedi asked, "who should we talk to? Who is in control? We can talk only if there is somebody who is capable of making decisions. Who will take the decisions? Today in this country, who do we speak to?"

Law Minister Salman Khurshid said government was willing to talk.

"The government is willing to talk. We have opened the path. If they want to talk, they can talk," Khurshid.

Reacting to Bedi's comments, he said, "We were talking to them. If they have doubts, find somebody else."

After examining Hazare this morning, Dr Naresh Trehan said it was a matter of concern that the Gandhian was fasting for the past 10 days.

"There is stability in his blood pressure and heart beat. He is taking rest. His ketone levels had come down. It is a matter of concern that for the past 10 days, he is fasting and he has not eaten anything," Trehan said.

The Core Committee of Team Anna also met here this morning to finalise the next course of action.

The virtual breakdown in talks last night led to sparring between the two sides with Hazare apprehending that he would be forcibly arrested and removed from the fast site and gave a call for 'Chalo Delhi' and gherao of Parliament and MPs.

Government's chief negotiator Mukherjee sought to reject claims of team Anna representatives, saying they were "distorting" facts on discussions.

Upset at the lack of progress, Hazare's three representatives -- Arvind Kejriwal, Prashant Bhushan and Kiran Bedi -- said that after another round of talks with government interlocutors headed by Mukherjee difference between government's attitude yesterday and today was marked like "day and night".

How Team Anna worked overnight for a hard bargain with Delhi cops

A lot of behind the screen drama took place before Team Anna could be coaxed into an agreement to hold protest at the Ramlila Maidan for 15 days and signed a 22 point undertaking with the Delhi Police.

An agreement would have been reached on Wednesday night itself but for Arvind Kejriwal, a key negotiator in Team Anna, sources privy to the negotiations said. He was firm demanding permission for at least a month-long protest.

“Kejriwal perhaps wanted to take the protest to Dussehra holidays that would have swelled the crowds automatically. Intelligence Bureau reports put the strength of nationwide pro-Anna rallies around 98,000 but the agitation was made to look huge because of extensive television coverage,” sources in the home ministry said.

The other four members — Kiran Bedi, Prashant Bhushan, Shashi Bhushan and Anna Hazare — had on Wednesday night agreed to limit the protest to seven days. When a solution could not be arrived at because of Kejriwal, both sides decided to negotiate again on Thursday.

The Delhi Police yielded on Thursday. It agreed to extend permission for 10 days first and then finally for 15 days but Kejriwal continued to hold his ground. An agreement was reached finally in the afternoon with Hazare, Bedi, and both Bhushans signing the undertaking and Kejriwal opting out.

As per the undertaking Neeraj Kumar, Manish Sisodia and Swati have been appointed to liaison with the Delhi Police.

The conditions also include organisers to be prosecuted as per law if they fail to control the supporters; no provocative speeches; no carrying of lathis and armaments;loudspeakers not to be used after 10 pm; medical examination of people on fast by government doctor thrice a day; participants to comply with all lawful directions of the police and organisers to ensure that public gathering should not exceed the capacity of the venue.

Can’t wait too long for strong Lokpal Bill: Anna

Anna Hazare | Anna Hazare arrested and sent to Tihar Jail

Civil society activist Anna Hazare was Tuesday arrested and sent to Tihar Jail as Delhi Police moved to stop his fast-unto-death 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, 74, was detained early Friday and later arrested and sent to prison to seven days judicial custody. His associates Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi and Shanti Bhushan were also detained with about 1,400 supporters all across the capital.

"Anna Hazare refused to sign a personal bond and has been sent to seven days judicial custody," Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat told reporters, describing it as a preventive arrest.

The opposition went on the warpath to demand Hazare's release. 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.

Hazare and Kejriwal were whisked away as they stepped out of an apartment in east Delhi on their way to the J.P. Park where police had clamped prohibitory orders and where the activists were planning to set the stage for their strike against the government's version of the bill that keeps the prime minister, judiciary and junior officials out of its ambit.

Hazare's supporters, who had gathered in hundreds in the apartment complex, shouted anti-government slogans and lauded the anti-corruption crusader who had gone on a hunger strike in April.

Just before his arrest, Hazare said in a recorded video message: "Don't let my arrest stop this movement. This is the nation's second struggle for freedom."

As news of his arrest spread, thousands took to the streets in Delhi, denouncing the government and hailing Hazare. The biggest gathering took place at the Chattrashal Stadium in north Delhi. Major protests were also reported in Delhi University, outside the Tihar Jail, and on the street leading from Rajghat to J.P. Park.

Security forces had a tough time handling the crowds.

Protests also gripped many states including Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa where people trooped out of their homes to voice their anger. Many shopkeepers downed shutters.

In India's financial capital Mumbai, thousands gathered at various places.

"We are also requesting supporters to strike work tomorrow and support Annaji," a volunteer for India Against Corruption said.

Celebrities too stepped in to verbalise their distress. Lyricist Javed Akhtar said: "I have had certain reservations about Anna's method but his arrest cannot be condoned. It is undemocratic, unacceptable."

The ripple effect was widespread.

"In a democracy, one has the right to protest in a peaceful manner. By detaining Hazare, the government is depriving the citizens of their constitutional rights," said P.K. Garg, a retired professor in Lucknow.

As the protests spread, the government attempted to clarify its position and said Delhi Police was not acting under political pressure and had made the detentions because Team Hazare had refused to agree to certain terms.

"If someone says we will defy the orders, I think this is unacceptable in a democracy," said Home Minister P. Chidambaram. "It is a real regret that police have taken this action."

The crisis for the government comes soon after the clampdown on a protest by yoga guru Ramdev on June 5.

The opposition was quick to seize the opportunity.

BJP president Nitin Gadkari and the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), neither of which agree fully with Hazare, called for demonstrations across the country Wednesday.

"This government is bent upon crushing anyone who wants to protest against corruption," BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said.

The CPI-M said Hazare's detention and the police ban on his hunger strike showed how "the Congress leadership is intolerant to any anti-corruption movement as its government is steeped in high-level corruption".

The volatile situation was set to snowball further with protests planned through the day. Using SMS messages, twitter and television, Hazare supporters called for people to gather in protest.