India Against Corruption (IAC) has decided to go back to the Mumbai police and secure Azad Maidan for the proposed fast by anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare, after he expressed disappointment over the exorbitant cost charged by the MMRDA.
The India Against Corruption will also file a writ petition in court against the government. An official release by the India Against Corruption said, “Annaji has said that he is not ready to be party to this cost, since it is a public andolan for and by the citizens, irrespective of who offers to pay it. He says it is our constitutional right to protest and the government must accommodate us (sic).”
The IAC has already appealed to chief minister Prithviraj Chavan to waive off or reduce the charges slapped by MMRDA.
“We will wait till December 24 for the CM’s response, failing which, we will go ahead with the agitation at Azad Maidan,” said Mayank Gandhi, coordinator of the Mumbai chapter of India Against Corruption.
The IAC stated that it would move court to secure its right to protest and will take a decision within a few days.
The MMRDA has allotted the ground at a charge of `6.40 per square metre per day until December 31; a revised fare of `8.40 per square metre daily will be applicable from January 1.
While MMRDA has allotted the ground, the cost for conducting the three-day fast will come up to `30 lakh. Mr Hazare will be fasting in Mumbai on December 27, 28 and 29 after which the jail-bharo andolan will be initiated.
Meanwhile, the IAC stated that those who want to participate in the jail bharo agitation can register online or through SMS.