This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-south-asia-13677897
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 5 | Version 6 |
---|---|
India activist Anna Hazare begins new protest | |
(about 14 hours later) | |
Indian activist Anna Hazare has begun a protest against the police crackdown on an anti-corruption fast by yoga guru Baba Ramdev. | |
Mr Hazare says he will go without food during the one-day protest in Delhi. | |
Over the weekend police broke up another fast against corruption by yoga guru Baba Ramdev and thousands of his supporters, leading to a public outcry. | |
A hunger strike by Mr Hazare in April heaped pressure on the government, which is beset by corruption scandals. | A hunger strike by Mr Hazare in April heaped pressure on the government, which is beset by corruption scandals. |
Security is tight at the Rajghat mausoleum in the Indian capital, Delhi, where Mr Hazare is holding the protest. | |
Anna Hazare, 72, is part of a panel of campaigners now negotiating with the government for tough anti-corruption laws and he has huge public support. | Anna Hazare, 72, is part of a panel of campaigners now negotiating with the government for tough anti-corruption laws and he has huge public support. |
Baba Ramdev, whose daily TV programme is watched by millions, has vowed to continue his fast against corruption in his home city of Haridwar. | Baba Ramdev, whose daily TV programme is watched by millions, has vowed to continue his fast against corruption in his home city of Haridwar. |
He wants billions of dollars of suspected bribe money allegedly held overseas to be returned to India. The yoga guru has called the police operation a "blot on democracy". | He wants billions of dollars of suspected bribe money allegedly held overseas to be returned to India. The yoga guru has called the police operation a "blot on democracy". |
Around 30 people were injured when police used batons and tear gas to disperse thousands of Baba Ramdev's supporters in central Delhi on Sunday. | Around 30 people were injured when police used batons and tear gas to disperse thousands of Baba Ramdev's supporters in central Delhi on Sunday. |
One woman is in a critical condition. | One woman is in a critical condition. |
The government has been heavily criticised for the way the police dealt with the protest. | The government has been heavily criticised for the way the police dealt with the protest. |
"India is a democratic country. Peacefully protesting and assembling without arms is legal," Arvind Kejriwal, a colleague of Mr Hazare, told a news conference. | "India is a democratic country. Peacefully protesting and assembling without arms is legal," Arvind Kejriwal, a colleague of Mr Hazare, told a news conference. |
"If the government obstructs us then we will resist and give ourselves up for arrest. The government's attitude is clearly that we have a right to indulge in corruption and if anyone protests then we will either crush them or... not allow them to assemble." | "If the government obstructs us then we will resist and give ourselves up for arrest. The government's attitude is clearly that we have a right to indulge in corruption and if anyone protests then we will either crush them or... not allow them to assemble." |
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the police operation against Baba Ramdev and his supporters had been "unfortunate" but there had been "no alternative". | Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the police operation against Baba Ramdev and his supporters had been "unfortunate" but there had been "no alternative". |
The gathering was moved to Rajghat, where independence leader Mahatma Gandhi was cremated after Mr Hazare was denied permission to return to Jantar Mantar, the site of his April fast. | |
'Not serious' | 'Not serious' |
That successful protest drew major concessions from the government, which agreed to let them help draft a bill to create an anti-corruption ombudsman. | That successful protest drew major concessions from the government, which agreed to let them help draft a bill to create an anti-corruption ombudsman. |
But reports say campaigners and the government are at odds over how powerful the new post-holder should be. | But reports say campaigners and the government are at odds over how powerful the new post-holder should be. |
"The government says the prime minister, the judiciary, the MPs' conduct inside the parliament should not be included [for investigation in the new law], nor should government servants below a certain level. Then what is the point [of the law]?, lawyer and panel member Prashant Bhushan told Tehelka magazine. | "The government says the prime minister, the judiciary, the MPs' conduct inside the parliament should not be included [for investigation in the new law], nor should government servants below a certain level. Then what is the point [of the law]?, lawyer and panel member Prashant Bhushan told Tehelka magazine. |
The government says the campaigners are "not serious" about the bill. | The government says the campaigners are "not serious" about the bill. |
The protests come as the Congress-led government is struggling with a massive corruption scandal surrounding the sale of mobile phone operating licences. | The protests come as the Congress-led government is struggling with a massive corruption scandal surrounding the sale of mobile phone operating licences. |
Auditors say spectrum was sold off on the cheap at an estimated cost to the exchequer of $40bn. | Auditors say spectrum was sold off on the cheap at an estimated cost to the exchequer of $40bn. |
A former government minister and several others have been arrested and are being prosecuted - all deny the corruption charges against them. | A former government minister and several others have been arrested and are being prosecuted - all deny the corruption charges against them. |