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Indian PM: Anti-corruption protest 'misconceived' | Indian PM: Anti-corruption protest 'misconceived' |
(40 minutes later) | |
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has told parliament that the hunger strike by the anti-corruption activist, Anna Hazare, is "totally misconceived". | Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has told parliament that the hunger strike by the anti-corruption activist, Anna Hazare, is "totally misconceived". |
He said the 74 year old was trying to circumvent democracy by demanding an overhaul of an anti-corruption bill. | |
Mr Hazare spent the night inside Tihar jail in Delhi after rejecting an offer by the authorities to release him. | |
He has said he will remain there unless he can resume the public protest stopped by his arrest on Tuesday. | |
Protests backing his campaign have been gathering momentum across the country. | Protests backing his campaign have been gathering momentum across the country. |
Thousands of people have gathered outside Tihar jail, many carrying the Indian flag and shouting "Down with corruption" and "Hail Mother India". | |
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 have announced they will march to show their support for Mr Hazare, while auto-rickshaw drivers have gone on strike. |
'Grave consequences' | 'Grave consequences' |
Mr Hazare and at least 1,200 of his supporters were arrested at JP Park in the capital on Tuesday morning, hours before he was due to begin his "fast unto death". | |
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. | 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. |
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. | 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. |
However, there is no sign yet that the government is prepared to allow that to happen, says the BBC's Mark Dummett in Delhi. | However, there is no sign yet that the government is prepared to allow that to happen, says the BBC's Mark Dummett in Delhi. |
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. | 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. |
"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. | "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. |
"Those who believe that their voice and their voice alone represents the will of 1.2 billion people should reflect deeply on that position. | "Those who believe that their voice and their voice alone represents the will of 1.2 billion people should reflect deeply on that position. |
"They must allow the elected representatives of the people in parliament to do the job that they were elected for." | "They must allow the elected representatives of the people in parliament to do the job that they were elected for." |
The prime minister's speech was constantly interrupted by opposition MPs, many of whom jeered and shouted "shame". | The prime minister's speech was constantly interrupted by opposition MPs, many of whom jeered and shouted "shame". |
Our correspondent says a prolonged stand-off between the two sides looks possible, with demonstrations being held in Delhi and other cities, and the government's options looking limited. | |
'Fundamental right' | 'Fundamental right' |
Mr Hazare is reported to have spent Tuesday night at one of the rooms in the administrative block of Tihar jail. | Mr Hazare is reported to have spent Tuesday night at one of the rooms in the administrative block of Tihar jail. |
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. | 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. |
"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. | "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. |
"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." | "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." |
Mr Bakshi said he had the support of Indians all over the world, who realised this was an "opportunity to clean up the country". | Mr Bakshi said he had the support of Indians all over the world, who realised this was an "opportunity to clean up the country". |
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". | 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". |
He says the new anti-corruption ombudsman - Lokpal - should be able to investigate anyone, including the prime minister and senior judges. | He says the new anti-corruption ombudsman - Lokpal - should be able to investigate anyone, including the prime minister and senior judges. |
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 Asia's third largest economy had 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. |