Let government remove me: Anna to supporters
August 25th, 2011 - 1:13 am ICT by IANSNew Delhi, Aug 24 (IANS) Fasting Anna Hazare Wednesday asked his supporters not to stop police if they evicted him forcibly from the Ramlila ground where he has been on a hunger strike for the last nine days.
The veteran activist demanding a sweeping anti-corruption law appealed to thousands of his supporters not to resort to violence in any case.
“My appeal to you is please maintain peace. If they evict me, please don’t stop them,” Hazare addressed the crowd amid a huge applause.
He said it was government’s conspiracy to provoke violence. “If you stop them, violence may break out. We will maintain calm. Doesn’t matter if I have to go to jail.”
The social activist said if his supporters resorted to violence, the government would be able to trip the movement. “Please picket MPs’ houses and court arrest there if I am removed from here.”
“The true face of the government has come out. This is an autocratic face,” he said, after talks between the government and his aides failed to achieve any breakthrough to solve the logjam.
Hazare’s aide Arvind Kejriwal said the government had done a “U-turn” over the strong Lokpal bill. “We asked (Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee) what if Anna Hazare continues his fast. He (Mukherjee) said if Anna doesn’t break his fast, it is his and your problem. Go and solve it.”
Kejriwal alleged that the government was planning to forcibly evict Hazare and take him to some other place at around 4 a.m.
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- Government spreading lies about Anna: Kejriwal - Dec 25, 2011
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- Government, Team Anna hold talks, PM promises 'best possible' Lokpal bill (Intro Roundup) - Aug 23, 2011
- Akhil ends fast; vows to strengthen anti-dam movement (Lead) - May 28, 2012
- Hazare to reach Ramlila via Rajghat, India Gate (Lead) - Aug 19, 2011
- BJP accepts Jan Lokpal bill: Gadkari writes to Anna - Aug 25, 2011
- Bollywood condemns Hazare's detention - Aug 16, 2011
- Two Team Anna members quit, Bedi denies cracks (Roundup) - Oct 18, 2011
- We will work out a solution, says Pranab - Aug 24, 2011
- Maintain decorum of movement, Kejriwal tells supporters - Aug 23, 2011
- Anna Hazare, Kejriwal, Bedi detained (Lead) - Aug 16, 2011
- Desperate PM asks Anna to end fast, talks open (Roundup) - Aug 23, 2011
Tags: aides, anna hazare, applause, arvind kejriwal, breakthrough, conspiracy, corruption, crowd, finance minister, hunger strike, logjam, New Delhi, nine days, peace, pranab mukherjee, social activist, true face, u turn, veteran activist, violence