Anna, police deal on fast in Ramlila Ground
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The stand-off between Anna Hazare and government ended today with an agreement showing give-and-take on both sides as the activist will launch an indefinite fast here on Friday for 15 days subject to certain conditions.
A breakthrough in the deadlock over conditions imposed on Hazare's protest fast was achieved in the small hours of the day after two nights of hard bargaining.
But Hazare will spend one more night in Tihar jail as new venue was still not ready. Hazare got from Delhi Police the spacious Ramlila Ground for his fast instead of the smaller J.P. Park, the venue initially given with a restriction of 5,000 supporters.
Significantly, Team Hazare made it clear that his fast would not be a fast-unto-death and he will be on hunger strike only till his health permits.
Hazare's close associates Kiran Bedi said the moment Dr Naresh Trehan's team is of the view that he needs medical attention, he will get medical attention.
Close on the heels of the deal, Team Hazare also hinted that it may not insist on inclusion of higher judiciary in the Lokpal Bill if government brings a 'good' Judicial Accountability Bill.
The activists also pleaded that the Jan Lokpal Bill prepared by them should at least be brought to Parliament for its consideration.
Venue promises
In an undertaking signed by Hazare himself and his associates - Arvind Kejriwal, Prashant Bhushan, Bedi and Shanti Bhushan, they also said that if any clause of it was violated, they would be liable to be prosecuted under law.
The clauses of the undertaking include - no damage to public property; gathering will not exceed the limit of the ground; the crowd will not spill over to the nearby roads; the protesters will cooperate with traffic police; loud speaker use within the ambit of a Supreme Court order (with a 10 PM limit).
Other clauses are: Arrangements of drinking water, medical aid, mobile toilets, proper lighting; no carrying of lathi or any weapon; no provocative slogans/ speeches; no inflammatory slogans within 200 meters of religious or worship places; public safety will be taken care of; no use of crackers.
Till September
Permission has been given to Anna Hazare and his associates for his fast at Ramlila Maidan till September 2 and it is conditional, Home Secretary R.K. Singh said today.
He said the government was not involved in any discussion with Team Anna and it was the Delhi Police which held the talks and resolved the issue 'amicably'.
Singh added that it was not proper to say the agreement was a victory for one side and defeat for the other 'but the basic issue was that permission for certain ground and certain period was given with some sort of conditions'.
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