New Delhi: Describing his detention by
police as the beginning of the "second freedom struggle", Anna
Hazare on Tuesday asked people to participate in a "jail bharo"
agitation.
"My dear countrymen, 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 police.
The 73-year-old Gandhian, who was scheduled to hold a
fast against corruption in J P Park here today, asked people
to court arrest and go to jails as part of the country-wide
agitation against corruption and to demand a strong Lokpal.
"Time has come my countrymen when there should be no
place left in jails in India to accommodate any more persons,"
he said while asking people to maintain peace.
"I once again request my fellow countrymen that peace
should be maintained and there must be no violence...Crores of
people have joined this movement and second line of leaders
are standing to lead this movement," he said.
Besides Hazare, two other prominent activists Arvind
Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi were taken into preventing custody
this morning.
Hazare said leaders like Kejriwal, Bedi, Prashant Bhusan,
Manish Sisodia, Arvind Gaud, PV Rajgopal, Shanti Bhusan and
Akhil Gogoi will lead the agitation.
"There are many who will continue to lead you and this
fight will go on," he said.
The Gandhian was taken into custody from a residential
area in Mayur Vihar before he was to proceed to the venue of
his fast where prohibitory orders are in place.
Meanwhile, Kiran Bedi said "somebody else" is behind the
police action as the force is capable enough to handle such
peaceful protests.
"This has not been done by Delhi Police, somebody else
else is behind it. Delhi Police is capable enough to handle
such peaceful protests," she said.
"When Anna asked the police about his crime, police said
they were following orders," Bedi added.
On detention of Hazare, she said there is not much
difference between detention and arrest.
"What is the difference between detention and arrest?
There's no difference. When you are detained that means you
are temporarily arrested and when your freedom is curbed, that
is arrest," she said.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, August 16, 2011, 09:35