By IANS,
New Delhi : Giving in to Team Anna’s terms, Delhi Police Wednesday relaxed most of the conditions for Anna Hazare’s fast, including giving him permission for seven days that could be extended.
Delhi Police agreed to relax six of the 22 conditions for the social activist to hold his indefinite fast against the government version of the Lokpal bill. The six conditions were mainly those to which Hazare had objected.
“We have relaxed six conditions on which Team Anna had objected. We have given permission for seven days which can be extended,” said Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat.
He said the venue of the fast has been shifted from J.P. Park to Ramlila Ground in central Delhi.
There would also be no limit on the number of people gathering at the venue in support of Hazare or the number of vehicles parked at the site, the police said.
Of the 22 conditions the police placed before Team Anna to hold their protest at J.P. Park from Aug 16, the civil society activists accepted 16 restriction and rejected six, terming them as unconstitutional.
The six conditions were – three days’ time frame for the fast, restricting the number of protesters to 5,000, allowing government medical officers to examine people fasting thrice a day, not to use loudspeakers or public address system, only 50 cars and 50 two-wheelers would be parked around the venue and not to erect a tent on any road.
Hazare had wanted a month for the protest.
However, since the police gave “verbal” assurance of relaxing the conditions for the fast, Team Anna is insisting on a written assurance. “We have asked for written assurance from the police,” said an Anna aide.
Hazare, who is in the Tihar Jail, has refused to leave the jail unless he is allowed to continue with his indefinite fast, and the curbs are lifted.