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Indian PM: Anti-graft protest 'misconceived' Indian PM: Anti-corruption protest 'misconceived'
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The Indian PM has criticised the hunger strike campaign by popular anti-graft activist Anna Hazare as "misconceived". Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has told parliament that the hunger strike by the anti-corruption activist, Anna Hazare, is "totally misconceived".
Manmohan Singh's speech in parliament was drowned by cries of "shame" from the opposition MPs. He said the 74-year-old was trying to circumvent democracy by demanding an overhaul of anti-corruption legislation.
Mr Hazare has spent a night in Tihar jail in Delhi, despite the government decision to free him. Mr Hazare has rejected an offer by the state to free him from a jail in Delhi.
An aide said he was continuing his hunger strike in prison and would leave only after he was given permission to continue his fast at a city park. He says he will remain in prison unless he can continue the protest stopped by his arrest on Tuesday.
Mr Hazare was arrested on Tuesday morning, hours before beginning his fast against a proposed new anti-corruption law. Protests backing his campaign have been gathering momentum across the country.
Hundreds of supporters of the anti-corruption campaigner have kept an overnight vigil outside the jail. Hundreds of supporters have gathered outside the jail, many carrying the Indian flag and shouting "Down with corruption" and "Hail Mother India".
On Wednesday morning, that protest grew, with many people carrying the Indian flag and shouting anti-corruption slogans. Supreme Court lawyers have announced they will march to show their support for Mr Hazare, while auto-rickshaw drivers have gone on strike.
Supreme Court lawyers announced they would march to show their support for Mr Hazare, while auto-rickshaw drivers went on strike to protest against corruption. 'Grave consequences'
Mr Hazare and at least 1,200 of his supporters were arrested at a park in the capital on Tuesday morning, hours before he was due to begin his "fast unto death".
The government denied it was stifling democratic protest after police arrested 1,300 people to halt Mr Hazare's hunger strike on Tuesday. The government denied it was stifling a democratic protest, saying the protesters had been detained because they had not accepted the police's restrictions on the number of fasting days and participants.
Authorities said the detentions were because protesters had not obeyed police conditions for the demonstration. As public anger mounted, officials ordered Mr Hazare's release. But he refused to leave jail before the police dropped the conditions they set for his freedom.
Jeering MPs However, there is no sign yet that the government is prepared to allow that to happen, says the BBC's Mark Dummett in Delhi.
"I acknowledge that Anna Hazare may be inspired by high ideals," Mr Singh told parliament. Speaking in parliament, Mr Singh argued that the arrests had been justified and that Mr Hazare's campaign amounted to a challenge to the authority of the government, which he was duty bound to protect.
"However, the path that he has chosen to impose a draft of the bill on parliament is totally misconceived." "I acknowledge that Anna Hazare may be inspired by high ideals," he said. "However, the path that he has chosen to impose a draft of the bill on parliament is totally misconceived and fraught with grave consequences for our parliamentary democracy.
Mr Singh said everyone was agreed that the anti-corruption bill should be passed. "Those who believe that their voice and their voice alone represents the will of 1.2 billion people should reflect deeply on that position.
"The question is who drafts the law and who makes the law? "They must allow the elected representatives of the people in parliament to do the job that they were elected for."
"Anna Hazare wants to impose his bill on parliament," he added. The prime minister's speech was constantly interrupted by opposition MPs, many of whom jeered and shouted "shame".
Mr Singh's speech was constantly interrupted by jeering opposition MPs. Our correspondent says a prolonged stand-off between the two sides looks possible, with demonstrations being held in Delhi and a number of other cities, and the government's options looking limited.
Correspondents say Mr Hazare's arrest and his refusal to leave the prison is being seen as a major setback for the government and a victory for the 74-year-old campaigner. 'Fundamental right'
Mr Hazare is understood to have spent the night at one of the rooms in the administrative block of the jail along with his associate Arvind Kejriwal, news agency Press Trust of India reports. Mr Hazare is reported to have spent Tuesday night at one of the rooms in the administrative block of Tihar jail.
On Tuesday, the authorities said Mr Hazare was being held for a week. A member of the India Against Corruption (IAC) movement, Gaurav Bakshi, told the BBC that Mr Hazare was determined to continue to his hunger strike.
But after thousands of his supporters came out on the streets of Delhi and other cities, the government backtracked and announced that he would be freed. "He must be allowed to sit the fast that he was originally asking for at JP Park with no conditions attached to it," he said.
One of the campaigner's aides who came out of the prison on Tuesday night said Mr Hazare had gone on hunger strike and was refusing to leave until the police could guarantee his original protest - which led to his arrest - would be allowed to go ahead. "His basic fundamental reason is that his fundamental right as a citizen of the country - the freedom to fast and protest in any manner anywhere in the country peacefully - has been taken away with 22 conditions imposed. He is against that and he is continuing with the fast where he is."
Government ministers had earlier ruled that out because of the police's concerns over law and order. Mr Bakshi said he had the support of Indians all over the world, who realised this was an "opportunity to clean up the country".
The police laid down six conditions for the fast to take place, which included an undertaking that the protest would be limited to three days and that no more than 4,000 to 5,000 people would be allowed to gather. "I think the entire country is sick and tired of essentially fools leading this country. The people have had enough," he added.
Plainclothes police officers picked up Mr Hazare from a house in Delhi. Police later said he had been held for breaching the peace. Mr Hazare has called the proposed anti-graft legislation a "cruel joke" and has described the fight against corruption as the "second war of independence".
Defending the government's decision, Home Minister P Chidambaram said nowhere in the world were protests allowed without conditions. He says the new anti-corruption ombudsman - Lokpal - should be able to investigate anyone, including the prime minister and senior judges.
Mr Hazare has called the proposed anti-corruption legislation a "cruel joke" and has described the fight against corruption as the "second war of independence". He said the movement would not stop with his arrest.
High-profile scandals
Mr Hazare says India's proposed anti-corruption ombudsman - Lokpal - should be able to investigate any official, including the prime minister and senior judges.
Correspondents say he has presented an increasing challenge for the Indian government in Asia's third largest economy.
India has recently been hit by a string of high-profile corruption scandals, including a multi-billion dollar alleged telecoms scam, alleged financial malpractices in connection with the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games and allegations that houses for war widows were diverted to civil servants.India has recently been hit by a string of high-profile corruption scandals, including a multi-billion dollar alleged telecoms scam, alleged financial malpractices in connection with the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games and allegations that houses for war widows were diverted to civil servants.
Critics of the government say the scandals point to a pervasive culture of corruption in Mr Singh's administration.Critics of the government say the scandals point to a pervasive culture of corruption in Mr Singh's administration.
A recent survey said corruption in India cost billions of dollars and threatened to derail growth. A recent survey said corruption in Asia's third largest economy had cost billions of dollars and threatened to derail growth.